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Burma appeal set to be launched UK agencies launch Burma appeal
(about 6 hours later)
UK aid agencies are expected to launch a joint appeal later to raise funds for the victims of Burma's cyclone. UK aid agencies have launched an urgent joint appeal to raise funds for the victims of Burma's cyclone.
The death toll from the storm is now believed to be more than 22,000, with another 41,000 missing. Thousands more have no clean water or shelter. The death toll is now believed to be more than 22,000, with another 41,000 people missing. Thousands more have no clean water or shelter.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is considering an appeal similar to that launched after the 2004 tsunami. The Disasters Emergency Committee said the scale of the disaster meant the need for aid was "immediate and vast".
The UK government has already pledged £5m in aid for survivors of the cyclone, which hit Burma on Saturday.The UK government has already pledged £5m in aid for survivors of the cyclone, which hit Burma on Saturday.
The storm, which brought winds of up to 120mph and caused a huge tidal surge, is already being seen as the worst natural disaster in East Asia since the Boxing Day tsunami more than three years ago. The storm, which brought winds of up to 120mph (193km/h) and caused a huge tidal surge, is already being seen as the worst natural disaster in East Asia since the 2005 tsunami.
"He was just about to get a bus - a 14 hour bus ride down to Rangoon - and so we're assuming he was in Rangoon on Friday... we haven't heard from him since Rachel Bourden, sister of missing British man"He was just about to get a bus - a 14 hour bus ride down to Rangoon - and so we're assuming he was in Rangoon on Friday... we haven't heard from him since Rachel Bourden, sister of missing British man
Prices soar The committee, which has 13 members including the British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Oxfam and Save the Children, launches and co-ordinates responses to major disasters overseas.
Several British organisations have already made their own pleas for donations to help ease food shortages and to provide other emergency supplies. It said any money raised would be spent on both immediate relief and long-term reconstruction.
Save the Children has called for £5m from supporters, while World Vision said it needed to raise £1.5m. DEC chief executive Brendan Gormley said: "Our members are there and need the UK public to show huge generosity to help them reach those thousands of people who have seen their lives and livelihoods uprooted by this disaster."
Several of organisations that form part of the DEC had already made their own pleas for donations to help ease food shortages and to provide other emergency supplies.
Oxfam has released £250,000 from its funds and put a team on standby to travel to the country.Oxfam has released £250,000 from its funds and put a team on standby to travel to the country.
The British Red Cross has also released £30,000 and said it had 17,000 volunteers from Burma on the ground handing out cooking and hygiene kits, drinking water and mosquito nets through its affiliate, the Myanmar Red Cross.The British Red Cross has also released £30,000 and said it had 17,000 volunteers from Burma on the ground handing out cooking and hygiene kits, drinking water and mosquito nets through its affiliate, the Myanmar Red Cross.
The International Medical Corps, which works with organisations in neighbouring Indonesia, is preparing to deploy an emergency response team.
It is also gathering medical supplies, blankets, water purification tablets and hygiene kits to send into Burma.
DEC is an umbrella organisation of 13 humanitarian aid charities, including Save the Children, Oxfam and the British Red Cross.
It launches and co-ordinates responses to major disasters overseas, and is expected to make an announcement on an appeal for Burma.
Britons registeredBritons registered
One of the people missing is British man Tom Bourden from Eastbourne. His sister Rachel said they had not heard from him since before the cyclone struck. One of the people missing is Briton Tom Bourden, from Eastbourne, in Sussex.
"He was just about to get a bus - a 14 hour bus ride down to Rangoon - and so we're assuming he was in Rangoon on Friday morning- afternoon-ish. His sister Rachel said they had not heard from him since before the cyclone struck.
"He was just about to get a bus - a 14-hour bus ride down to Rangoon - and so we're assuming he was in Rangoon on Friday morning- afternoon-ish.
"And we haven't heard from him since really. Him and his girlfriend are kind of in daily contact, or were up until then, so not to hear from him is a worry," she said."And we haven't heard from him since really. Him and his girlfriend are kind of in daily contact, or were up until then, so not to hear from him is a worry," she said.
It is not known exactly how many British people are currently in Burma. The FCO said that about 200 Britons were registered with the British embassy.It is not known exactly how many British people are currently in Burma. The FCO said that about 200 Britons were registered with the British embassy.
Those are likely to be people staying in the country for long periods, such as expatriates, rather than tourists, most of whom would not be registered.Those are likely to be people staying in the country for long periods, such as expatriates, rather than tourists, most of whom would not be registered.
As Burma is currently in the rainy season, the FCO said it did not expect large numbers of British tourists to be in the country.As Burma is currently in the rainy season, the FCO said it did not expect large numbers of British tourists to be in the country.
Access problems
Almost all of the deaths from the cyclone occurred in the country's Irrawaddy river delta region, where more people were killed by the tidal wave than the cyclone itself.Almost all of the deaths from the cyclone occurred in the country's Irrawaddy river delta region, where more people were killed by the tidal wave than the cyclone itself.
Many of the coastal areas in the area remain cut off due to extensive flooding and road damage.Many of the coastal areas in the area remain cut off due to extensive flooding and road damage.
The cyclone also caused massive damage in the former capital, Rangoon, felling trees and cutting power supplies.The cyclone also caused massive damage in the former capital, Rangoon, felling trees and cutting power supplies.
Aid agencies are now pushing for immediate access to the affected areas, but correspondents say the military-ruled country, isolated and impoverished, has long been wary of the international community and there are doubts over how much access the government will allow.