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 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Aid arriving in cyclone-hit Burma | Aid arriving in cyclone-hit Burma |
| (10 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. |
| Neighbours China, India and Thailand have been flying in supplies and some foreign workers are on the ground. | Neighbours China, India and Thailand have been flying in supplies and some foreign workers are on the ground. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Reports from the worst-hit areas speak of traumatised survivors emerging from floodwaters littered with bodies. | 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. |
| 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. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Footage of the aid operation in Burma from state-run TV | Footage 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 call | Visa 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 Rudd class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7387331.stm">Keeping a lid on chaos | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | |
| 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. |
| The 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 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 - also 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 - 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. |
| 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. |