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| Burma authorises UN aid delivery | Burma authorises UN aid delivery |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Burma's secretive military leaders have approved a United Nations aid flight to help victims of the devastating cyclone that left more than 22,000 people dead. | Burma's secretive military leaders have approved a United Nations aid flight to help victims of the devastating cyclone that left more than 22,000 people dead. |
| The UN said an aircraft carrying 25 tonnes of aid was due to leave Italy. | The UN said an aircraft carrying 25 tonnes of aid was due to leave Italy. |
| The move comes as aid agencies are warning that many face hunger and disease, and are appealing for urgent access to survivors. | The move comes as aid agencies are warning that many face hunger and disease, and are appealing for urgent access to survivors. |
| There are concerns that the generals' reluctance to allow aid personnel into the country is hampering the effort. | There are concerns that the generals' reluctance to allow aid personnel into the country is hampering the effort. |
| Burma has now put a minister in charge of providing visas to foreign aid workers. | Burma has now put a minister in charge of providing visas to foreign aid workers. |
| Richard Horsey, a spokesman for the UN's disaster relief agency OCHA said the government had named Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint to oversee visa applications for aid agencies. | Richard Horsey, a spokesman for the UN's disaster relief agency OCHA said the government had named Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint to oversee visa applications for aid agencies. |
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| Footage of the aid operation in Burma from state-run TV | |
| State media reported on Tuesday that 22,464 people had now been confirmed dead and another 41,054 people were missing as a result of Cyclone Nargis on Saturday. Up to a million people are thought to have been left homeless. | |
| 'No emotion' | |
| As rescue teams reach areas that had been cut off, those figures are expected to rise. | As rescue teams reach areas that had been cut off, those figures are expected to rise. |
| Many roads are still blocked by fallen trees and debris and there are reports of survivors trekking through floodwaters littered with bloated bodies of people and animals to reach help. | Many roads are still blocked by fallen trees and debris and there are reports of survivors trekking through floodwaters littered with bloated bodies of people and animals to reach help. |
| EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION UN map showing worst-hit areas, based on satellite imagery [1.13MB] Most computers will open PDFs automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here See how satellites tracked cycloneSee more UN cyclone maps The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites | |
| "The people have no emotion left on their faces. They have never seen anything like this before," one witness told French news agency AFP. | "The people have no emotion left on their faces. They have never seen anything like this before," one witness told French news agency AFP. |
| "They have lost their families, they have nowhere to stay, and they have nothing to eat. They don't know what the future will bring." | "They have lost their families, they have nowhere to stay, and they have nothing to eat. They don't know what the future will bring." |
| Survivors face poor sanitation and a lack of access to clean water and up to a million are without shelter in the Irrawaddy delta region, according to Unicef. | Survivors face poor sanitation and a lack of access to clean water and up to a million are without shelter in the Irrawaddy delta region, according to Unicef. |
See how satellites tracked cycloneSee more UN cyclone maps The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites | |
| Flooding could lead to outbreaks of malaria and dengue fever, while water-born diseases such as cholera and dysentery are also a threat. | Flooding could lead to outbreaks of malaria and dengue fever, while water-born diseases such as cholera and dysentery are also a threat. |
| Assessment teams are on the ground and some aid is beginning to make its way to those who need it. | Assessment teams are on the ground and some aid is beginning to make its way to those who need it. |
| The World Food Programme has begun to distribute food in and around Burma's main city, Rangoon. | The World Food Programme has begun to distribute food in and around Burma's main city, Rangoon. |
| The US, UK, EU and China have all pledged money towards relief efforts. Thailand has already shipped aid and India has sent two naval vessels. | The US, UK, EU and China have all pledged money towards relief efforts. Thailand has already shipped aid and India has sent two naval vessels. |
| But parts of the low-lying Irrawaddy delta region remain isolated, and aid experts are warning that a massive logistical effort will be required to assist people there. | But parts of the low-lying Irrawaddy delta region remain isolated, and aid experts are warning that a massive logistical effort will be required to assist people there. |