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Burma authorises UN aid delivery Burma authorises UN aid delivery
(about 1 hour 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 UN aid flight to help victims of the devastating cyclone.
The UN said an aircraft carrying 25 tonnes of aid was due to leave Italy. The flight, carrying 25 tonnes of aid, is due to leave Italy, while help from Burma's neighbours and allies is already getting through.
The move comes as aid agencies are warning that many face hunger and disease, and are appealing for urgent access to survivors. But concern remains that delaying access to outside aid workers is harming relief efforts.
There are concerns that the generals' reluctance to allow aid personnel into the country is hampering the effort. Saturday's cyclone left more than 22,000 people dead, and tens of thousands missing.
Burma has now put a minister in charge of providing visas to foreign aid workers. 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.
Richard Horsey, a spokesman for the UN's disaster relief agency OCHA said the government had now 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 TVFootage of the aid operation in Burma from state-run TV
International pressure on the West-wary generals is also mounting: The UN's World Food Programme has begun to distribute food in and around Burma's main city, Rangoon. Thailand has shipped relief supplies and India has sent two naval vessels.
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  • Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said: "Forget politics. Forget the military dictatorship. Let's just get aid and assistance through to people who are suffering and dying as we speak, through a lack of support on the ground"
  • US President George W Bush, who has backed substantial sanctions against Burma's leaders, offered the support of US Navy ships in the region
 The official Chinese Xinhua news agency says 66 tonnes of aid from China has arrived in Yangon - Burma's largest city and one of those badly hit by Saturday's cyclone.
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. But while the US, UK and EU have all pledged money towards relief efforts, it has been hard for them to get aid and teams in.
Before and after: extent of flooding clear in Nasa satellite imagesEnlarge Image
International pressure on the West-wary generals is mounting, with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and US President George W Bush appealing to the generals.
"Forget politics," said Mr Rudd. "Forget the military dictatorship. Let's just get aid and assistance through to people who are suffering and dying as we speak, through a lack of support on the ground".
President Bush, who has backed substantial sanctions against Burma's leaders, offered the support of US Navy ships in the region.
Scot Marciel, the newly-appointed US ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), said he hoped Burma's leaders "would accept assistance from the United States.
"It is meant sincerely from the American people," he said. "If not, we would want to work with the UN and other organisations who are able to get inside the country."
Homeless
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 storm surge. Up to a million people are thought to have been left homeless.
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
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.
'No emotion'
The British ambassador to Burma, Mark Canning, says that as many as 50,000 could have been killed.The British ambassador to Burma, Mark Canning, says that as many as 50,000 could have been killed.
Before and after: extent of flooding clear in Nasa satellite imagesEnlarge Image
"The scale of the disaster is unfolding by the hour," he told the BBC. "It's really difficult to get a firm fix on this because the majority of the damage has taken place in areas that are very, very difficult to access.""The scale of the disaster is unfolding by the hour," he told the BBC. "It's really difficult to get a firm fix on this because the majority of the damage has taken place in areas that are very, very difficult to access."
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.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.
The government has relaxed its grip on the aid groups permanently based in Burma and those workers, local and international, are free to travel and relay assessment needs.
Referendum
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.
"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.
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
"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.
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.
The government has relaxed its grip on the aid groups permanently based in Burma and those workers, local and international, are free to travel and relay assessment needs.
The World Food Programme has begun to distribute food in and around Burma's main city, Rangoon.
Referendum
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 BBC's Paul Danahar, who has managed to get into southern Burma, said the cyclone has handed the generals the biggest challenge to their rule since the height of the pro-democracy movement in 1989.
But he says that while the government has been quick to come down hard on pro-democracy demonstrations, people are complaining those soldiers are nowhere to be seen now, when help is needed.
A referendum on a proposed constitution backed by the military leaders, who have been in power since 1962, is still expected to go ahead on Saturday, but could be delayed in some of the worst-affected areas.A referendum on a proposed constitution backed by the military leaders, who have been in power since 1962, is still expected to go ahead on Saturday, but could be delayed in some of the worst-affected areas.
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