This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7387331.stm

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Aid arriving in cyclone-hit Burma Aid arriving in cyclone-hit Burma
(40 minutes later)
Foreign aid is beginning to arrive in Burma, devastated by a cyclone that left more than 22,000 people 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. Neighbours China, India and Thailand have been flying in supplies and some foreign workers are on the ground.
And a Chinese plane carrying 60 tonnes of aid has landed in the main city Rangoon, Chinese state media report. The country's secretive ruling generals have given a UN aid plane permission to land, but complaints remain that the generals are hampering relief efforts.
But complaints remain that the generals are hampering relief efforts by denying access to foreign aid workers. Reports from the worst-hit areas speak of traumatised survivors emerging from floodwaters littered with bodies.
A vast swathe of the southern Irrawaddy delta, which bore the full force of the cyclone, remains under water.A vast swathe of the southern Irrawaddy delta, which 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. 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.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
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 being prepared now in Italy and is due to leave within days.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 RuddForget 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). Chinese media say a plane carrying 60 tonnes of aid has landed in the biggest city, Rangoon, and planes from other countries in the region are on their way.
As well as the Chinese plane, the UN's World Food Programme has begun to distribute food in and around Rangoon. Reports say the UN's World Food Programme has begun to distribute food in and around Rangoon, and the Red Cross has a handful of expatriate and many local staff on the ground.
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.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.
It has also failed to respond to a US offer to use three naval They have also so far failed to respond to a US offer to use three naval ships exercising in the Gulf of Thailand to divert to the aid operation, the US says.
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.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.
and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appealed to the generals. The 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."
Before and after: extent of flooding clear in Nasa satellite imagesEnlarge ImageBefore 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 - also urged the junta to accept international aid in a statement.
But the UK's envoy to Burma, Mark Canning, said progress was being made.But the UK's envoy to Burma, Mark Canning, said progress was being made.
"The authorities have been... very open in calling for supplies of various kinds," he said, adding that teams of people had been allowed entry."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.""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.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 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. 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 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
Haggard refugees are said to be gathering in wrecked towns in the Irrawaddy delta, 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.
Other accounts have spoken of traumatised survivors wading through the floodwaters.
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.
Name
 Name