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Aid arriving in cyclone-hit Burma Aid arriving in cyclone-hit Burma
(about 1 hour later)
Foreign aid is beginning to arrive in Burma, devastated by a cyclone that left more than 22,000 dead. Foreign aid is beginning to arrive in Burma, devastated by a cyclone that left more than 22,000 people dead.
The country's secretive ruling generals have given a UN aid plane permission to land, while neighbouring India and Thailand have also sent aid flights.The country's secretive ruling generals have given a UN aid plane permission to land, while neighbouring India and Thailand have also sent aid flights.
And a Chinese plane carrying 60 tonnes of aid has landed in the main city Rangoon, Chinese state media report.And a Chinese plane carrying 60 tonnes of aid has landed in the main city Rangoon, Chinese state media report.
But complaints remain that the generals are hampering relief efforts by denying access to foreign aid workers.But complaints remain that the generals are hampering relief efforts by denying access to foreign aid workers.
A vast swathe of the southern Irrawaddy delta, that bore the full force of the cyclone, remains under water.A vast swathe of the southern Irrawaddy delta, that bore the full force of the cyclone, remains under water.
Many roads are still blocked, and bedraggled survivors are emerging from this catastrophic scene, hungry and thirsty and vulnerable to disease, reports from the region say.Many roads are still blocked, and bedraggled survivors are emerging from this catastrophic scene, hungry and thirsty and vulnerable to disease, reports from the region say.
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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
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.
Visa callVisa call
Under pressure to open the doors to foreign aid operations, they approved the UN aid flight - carrying 25 tonnes of aid - which is due to leave Italy. Under pressure to open the doors to foreign aid operations, they approved the UN aid flight - carrying 25 tonnes of aid - which is being prepared now in Italy and is due to leave within days.
Forget politics. Forget the military dictatorship. Let's just get aid and assistance through Australian PM Kevin Rudd
In principle, a core team of rescue workers will accompany the plane, said Elizabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
As well as the Chinese plane, the UN's World Food Programme has begun to distribute food in and around Rangoon.As well as the Chinese plane, the UN's World Food Programme has begun to distribute food in and around Rangoon.
But so far the generals have resisted calls to waive visa requirements from aid workers, instead appointing Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint to oversee visa applications. But so far the generals have resisted calls to waive visa requirements for many waiting aid workers, instead appointing Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint to oversee visa applications.
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/south_asia_enl_1210151685/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/south_asia_enl_1210151685/html/1.stm', '1210151806', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=417,height=628,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Before and after: extent of flooding clear in Nasa satellite images href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/south_asia_enl_1210151685/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/south_asia_enl_1210151685/html/1.stm', '1210151806', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=417,height=628,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image In response, France has suggested invoking a UN "responsibility to protect" clause, which it says could pave the way for aid to be flown in without the approval of the military.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and US President George W Bush have appealed to the generals. The White House and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appealed 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.""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 in the past backed substantial sanctions against Burma's leaders over their suppression of the country's pro-democracy movement, offered the support of US Navy ships in the region. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/south_asia_enl_1210151685/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/south_asia_enl_1210151685/html/1.stm', '1210151806', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=417,height=628,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Before and after: extent of flooding clear in Nasa satellite images href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/south_asia_enl_1210151685/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/south_asia_enl_1210151685/html/1.stm', '1210151806', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=417,height=628,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image
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. But the UK's envoy to Burma, Mark Canning, said progress was being made.
"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." "The authorities have been... very open in calling for supplies of various kinds," he said, adding that teams of people had been allowed entry.
"More is needed in terms of access, but a lot of people are working on that now."
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.
"It's a huge crisis and it just seems odd to me that the government would go ahead with the referendum in this circumstance," said Scot Marciel, the newly-appointed US ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
HomelessHomeless
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 storm surge. Up to a million people are thought to have been left 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.
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 commentsEXTENT 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. Haggard refugees are said to be gathering in wrecked towns in the Irrawaddy delta, including Labutta.
The British ambassador to Burma, Mark Canning, says that as many as 50,000 could have been killed. 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 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 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."
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. Rotting bodies were also floating in Hlaing river, in a slightly less affected area east of Rangoon, the survivor said.
Referendum Other accounts have spoken of traumatised survivors wading through the floodwaters.
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.
"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.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-born 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.
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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