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Aid arriving in cyclone-hit Burma | Aid arriving in cyclone-hit Burma |
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Foreign aid is beginning to arrive in Burma, devastated by a cyclone that has left more than 22,000 people dead. | Foreign aid is beginning to arrive in Burma, devastated by a cyclone that has left more than 22,000 people dead. |
Neighbouring countries and the UN have dispatched planes carrying supplies - amid complaints that ruling generals are hampering the foreign aid effort. | Neighbouring countries and the UN have dispatched planes carrying supplies - amid complaints that ruling generals are hampering the foreign aid effort. |
The UN has urged the authorities to let foreign aid workers into Burma. | The UN has urged the authorities to let foreign aid workers into Burma. |
A vast swathe of the southern Irrawaddy delta remains under water. A US envoy in Burma told reporters the death toll could reach 100,000. | |
Reports from the area - which bore the full force of the cyclone - speak of traumatised survivors emerging from floodwaters littered with bodies. | Reports from the area - which bore the full force of the cyclone - speak of traumatised survivors emerging from floodwaters littered with bodies. |
Survivors are hungry, thirsty and vulnerable to disease - but given the vast area affected, and blocked roads, the challenge for aid workers is enormous, say reports. | Survivors are hungry, thirsty and vulnerable to disease - but given the vast area affected, and blocked roads, the challenge for aid workers is enormous, say reports. |
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Footage of the aid operation in Burma from state-run TV | Footage of the aid operation in Burma from state-run TV |
'Right direction' | 'Right direction' |
In a statement, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged authorities in Burma - also known as Myanmar - to allow foreign aid workers and supplies into the country. | In a statement, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged authorities in Burma - also known as Myanmar - to allow foreign aid workers and supplies into the country. |
Forget politics. Forget the military dictatorship. Let's just get aid and assistance through Australian PM Kevin Rudd Keeping a lid on chaos | Forget politics. Forget the military dictatorship. Let's just get aid and assistance through Australian PM Kevin Rudd Keeping a lid on chaos |
Speaking to reporters, the UN's humanitarian chief John Holmes said the crisis was a "major catastrophe" and said aid had started to arrive. | Speaking to reporters, the UN's humanitarian chief John Holmes said the crisis was a "major catastrophe" and said aid had started to arrive. |
He said that 24 countries had pledged assistance so far worth $30m (£15m), and a flash appeal would be launched on Friday once an initial assessment of need was complete. An assessment team was due in Burma on Thursday. | He said that 24 countries had pledged assistance so far worth $30m (£15m), and a flash appeal would be launched on Friday once an initial assessment of need was complete. An assessment team was due in Burma on Thursday. |
Mr Holmes said that aid agencies had faced difficulties accessing the disaster zone, adding that the rapid issuing of visas and customs clearance would be helpful. | Mr Holmes said that aid agencies had faced difficulties accessing the disaster zone, adding that the rapid issuing of visas and customs clearance would be helpful. |
But he dismissed a suggestion by the French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner that the UN Security Council should adopt a resolution allowing aid to be flown into the country by force as unnecessarily confrontational. | But he dismissed a suggestion by the French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner that the UN Security Council should adopt a resolution allowing aid to be flown into the country by force as unnecessarily confrontational. |
Co-operation from the Burmese authorities was, he said, "reasonable and heading in the right direction". | Co-operation from the Burmese authorities was, he said, "reasonable and heading in the right direction". |
The BBC's Paul Danahar, in Burma, says this is the biggest challenge to the generals since the height of the pro-democracy movement in 1989. | The BBC's Paul Danahar, in Burma, says this is the biggest challenge to the generals since the height of the pro-democracy movement in 1989. |
But under pressure, they have begun to open the door to supplies, and now to foreign aid workers:
| But under pressure, they have begun to open the door to supplies, and now to foreign aid workers:
|
But Burma has refused to waive visa requirements for many waiting aid workers. | But Burma has refused to waive visa requirements for many waiting aid workers. |
They have also so far failed to respond to a US offer to divert three naval ships exercising in the Gulf of Thailand to the aid operation, the US says. | They have also so far failed to respond to a US offer to divert three naval ships exercising in the Gulf of Thailand to the aid operation, the US says. |
Before and after: extent of flooding clear in Nasa satellite imagesEnlarge Image | Before and after: extent of flooding clear in Nasa satellite imagesEnlarge Image |
The National League for Democracy (NLD) - the party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi - has urged the junta to accept international aid in a statement. | The National League for Democracy (NLD) - the party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi - has urged the junta to accept international aid in a statement. |
The Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd urged the junta to "forget politics". | The Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd urged the junta to "forget politics". |
The Burmese junta has also attracted criticism for its decision to plough ahead with a referendum on a proposed constitution on Saturday, with the possible exception of the worst-hit regions. | The Burmese junta has also attracted criticism for its decision to plough ahead with a referendum on a proposed constitution on Saturday, with the possible exception of the worst-hit regions. |
Homeless | Homeless |
Burmese 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, which saw swathes of Burma hit by high winds and a tidal surge. | Burmese 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, which saw swathes of Burma hit by high winds and a tidal surge. |
Up to a million people are thought to have been left homeless in the crisis, which has left thousands of square kilometres of the Irrawaddy delta under water. | Up to a million people are thought to have been left homeless in the crisis, which has left thousands of square kilometres of the Irrawaddy delta under water. |
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 cycloneSend us your comments | 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 cycloneSend us your comments |
Haggard refugees are said to be gathering in wrecked towns in the area, including Labutta. | Haggard refugees are said to be gathering in wrecked towns in the area, including Labutta. |
In Bogalay, the bodies of people killed by the storm "drifted into the sea with the tide, and are now resurfacing on the shore," a survivor who has been travelling in the region told the BBC's Burmese service. | In Bogalay, the bodies of people killed by the storm "drifted into the sea with the tide, and are now resurfacing on the shore," a survivor who has been travelling in the region told the BBC's Burmese service. |
"The storm was followed by tidal waves and ships are marooned. You can see the boats near the main market. Ninety percent of Bogalay town is destroyed." | "The storm was followed by tidal waves and ships are marooned. You can see the boats near the main market. Ninety percent of Bogalay town is destroyed." |
Rotting bodies were also floating in Hlaing river, in a slightly less affected area east of Rangoon, the survivor said. | Rotting bodies were also floating in Hlaing river, in a slightly less affected area east of Rangoon, the survivor said. |
Survivors face poor sanitation and a lack of access to clean water. | Survivors face poor sanitation and a lack of access to clean water. |
Flooding could lead to outbreaks of mosquito-borne malaria and dengue fever, while water-borne diseases such as cholera and dysentery are also a threat. | Flooding could lead to outbreaks of mosquito-borne malaria and dengue fever, while water-borne diseases such as cholera and dysentery are also a threat. |
Are you in Burma, or do you have friends and family there? Have you - or they - been affected by the cyclone? Send your comments and pictures using the post form below. | Are you in Burma, or do you have friends and family there? Have you - or they - been affected by the cyclone? Send your comments and pictures using the post form below. |
You can also send your comments via text to +44 7624 800 100: | You can also send your comments via text to +44 7624 800 100: |
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |