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Fears Burma storm toll could soar | Fears Burma storm toll could soar |
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Five days after a devastating cyclone struck, the UN has urged Burma to open its doors to foreign aid and staff. | Five days after a devastating cyclone struck, the UN has urged Burma to open its doors to foreign aid and staff. |
More than 22,000 people were killed, says the government, but the top US diplomat in Burma warned that without speedy action that could top 100,000. | More than 22,000 people were killed, says the government, but the top US diplomat in Burma warned that without speedy action that could top 100,000. |
Amid the "increasingly horrendous" situation, there is a "real risk" of disease outbreak, said the head of the US embassy in Burma, Shari Villarosa. | Amid the "increasingly horrendous" situation, there is a "real risk" of disease outbreak, said the head of the US embassy in Burma, Shari Villarosa. |
Some aid has arrived but the UN says big obstacles remain for aid agencies. | Some aid has arrived but the UN says big obstacles remain for aid agencies. |
Burma's ruling military junta has approved the passage of some aid, but other offers have been spurned while many foreign aid workers are being held in a queue for visas. | Burma's ruling military junta has approved the passage of some aid, but other offers have been spurned while many foreign aid workers are being held in a queue for visas. |
In the area worst affected by Saturday's cyclone, the vast Irrawaddy delta, survivors have walked for days past dead bodies to find help. | In the area worst affected by Saturday's cyclone, the vast Irrawaddy delta, survivors have walked for days past dead bodies to find help. |
They are hungry, thirsty and vulnerable to disease - but roads are blocked and aid has been slow to arrive. | They are hungry, thirsty and vulnerable to disease - but roads are blocked and aid has been slow to arrive. |
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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 |
Disease risk | Disease risk |
The last Burmese death toll, on Tuesday, said 22,464 people had now been confirmed dead and another 41,054 people were missing as a result of high winds and the tidal surge. | The last Burmese death toll, on Tuesday, said 22,464 people had now been confirmed dead and another 41,054 people were missing as a result of high winds and the tidal surge. |
What remains is for the Burmese government to allow the international community to help its people. It is not a matter of politics Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State Keeping a lid on chaos class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7388880.stm">Aid worker's diary | |
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. |
Shari Villarosa, the charge d'affaires of the US embassy in Burma - also known as Myanmar - said food and water were running short in the delta area and called the situation there "increasingly horrendous." | Shari Villarosa, the charge d'affaires of the US embassy in Burma - also known as Myanmar - said food and water were running short in the delta area and called the situation there "increasingly horrendous." |
"There is a very real risk of disease outbreaks as long as this continues," Ms Villarosa said, according to Associated Press. | "There is a very real risk of disease outbreaks as long as this continues," Ms Villarosa said, according to Associated Press. |
The death toll could reach or exceed 100,000 as humanitarian conditions worsen, she said - based on information from a non-governmental organisation that she would not name. | The death toll could reach or exceed 100,000 as humanitarian conditions worsen, she said - based on information from a non-governmental organisation that she would not name. |
Before and after: extent of flooding clear in Nasa satellite imagesEnlarge Image | Before and after: extent of flooding clear in Nasa satellite imagesEnlarge Image |
Accounts from the Irrawaddy delta have spoken of fistfights breaking out between survivors desperate to seize dwindling supplies of food and water. | Accounts from the Irrawaddy delta have spoken of fistfights breaking out between survivors desperate to seize dwindling supplies of food and water. |
Some are breaking open coconuts for the water inside, while others are driven to eating dead fish. | Some are breaking open coconuts for the water inside, while others are driven to eating dead fish. |
Poor sanitation, rotting bodies in the water, and flooding could all bring disease, aid agencies warn. | Poor sanitation, rotting bodies in the water, and flooding could all bring disease, aid agencies warn. |
They highlight the risk of mosquito-borne malaria and dengue fever, along with water-borne diseases such as cholera and dysentery. | They highlight the risk of mosquito-borne malaria and dengue fever, along with water-borne diseases such as cholera and dysentery. |
Calls for access | Calls for access |
The Burmese authorities have attracted criticism over claims they are refusing to provide visas to waiting foreign aid workers and have spurned some offers of help, such as a US offer to deploy three naval ships and two planes in the region. | The Burmese authorities have attracted criticism over claims they are refusing to provide visas to waiting foreign aid workers and have spurned some offers of help, such as a US offer to deploy three naval ships and two planes in the region. |
The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is the latest to voice such criticism, telling reporters: | The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is the latest to voice such criticism, telling reporters: |
"What remains is for the Burmese government to allow the international community to help its people. It should be a simple matter. It is not a matter of politics." | "What remains is for the Burmese government to allow the international community to help its people. It should be a simple matter. It is not a matter of politics." |
Earlier, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged authorities in Burma to assist the entry of foreign aid workers and supplies into the country "in every way possible" - strong diplomatic language, says the BBC's correspondent at the UN, Laura Trevelyan. | Earlier, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged authorities in Burma to assist the entry of foreign aid workers and supplies into the country "in every way possible" - strong diplomatic language, says the BBC's correspondent at the UN, Laura Trevelyan. |
Speaking to reporters, the UN's humanitarian chief John Holmes accepted that aid agencies had faced difficulties accessing the disaster zone. | Speaking to reporters, the UN's humanitarian chief John Holmes accepted that aid agencies had faced difficulties accessing the disaster zone. |
Aid arrives | Aid arrives |
But, he said, co-operation from the Burmese authorities was "reasonable and heading in the right direction". | But, he said, co-operation from the Burmese authorities was "reasonable and heading in the right direction". |
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 |
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. | 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. |
Mr Holmes said 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. | Mr Holmes said 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. | An assessment team was due in Burma on Thursday. |
A stream of aid is now in, or on its way, to Burma:
| A stream of aid is now in, or on its way, to Burma:
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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. |