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Fears rise over Burma aid delays | Fears rise over Burma aid delays |
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Burma's leaders are facing growing international concern over their reluctance to accept foreign aid, days after the devastating cyclone. | Burma's leaders are facing growing international concern over their reluctance to accept foreign aid, days after the devastating cyclone. |
The UN says its planes carrying vital food supplies cannot enter because they still do not have permission to land. | The UN says its planes carrying vital food supplies cannot enter because they still do not have permission to land. |
The regional Asean group has urged the military regime to allow in aid flights "before it's too late". | |
A US diplomat said conditions were "horrendous" and warned the death toll could top 100,000 if they worsened. | |
Teams reaching some of the worst-hit areas have described harrowing scenes. | Teams reaching some of the worst-hit areas have described harrowing scenes. |
Some aid workers reported bodies rotting in the fields and desperate survivors fighting over food and water. | Some aid workers reported bodies rotting in the fields and desperate survivors fighting over food and water. |
It's not a matter of politics, it's a matter of a humanitarian crisis US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Keeping a lid on chaosAid worker's diaryWill Burma's junta accept aid?Your pictures: Burma cyclone | It's not a matter of politics, it's a matter of a humanitarian crisis US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Keeping a lid on chaosAid worker's diaryWill Burma's junta accept aid?Your pictures: Burma cyclone |
Buildings have been swept away, leaving up to a million people homeless, and swathes of land are under water, sparking fears of disease. | Buildings have been swept away, leaving up to a million people homeless, and swathes of land are under water, sparking fears of disease. |
Burmese troops and aid agencies already on the ground are pushing into the affected areas. | Burmese troops and aid agencies already on the ground are pushing into the affected areas. |
But, aid officials say, the task is enormous and many people have not received any help. | But, aid officials say, the task is enormous and many people have not received any help. |
A four-man UN assessment team is due on the ground in Burma later on Thursday. | |
Experts say that a massive aid operation is needed to help those affected by Cyclone Nargis, which smashed into the low-lying Irrawaddy delta region on Saturday. | Experts say that a massive aid operation is needed to help those affected by Cyclone Nargis, which smashed into the low-lying Irrawaddy delta region on Saturday. |
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 Send 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 Send us your comments |
But the Burmese government has spurned some offers of aid, such as one from the US to deploy navy ships, and many foreign aid workers are being held in a queue for visas. | But the Burmese government has spurned some offers of aid, such as one from the US to deploy navy ships, and many foreign aid workers are being held in a queue for visas. |
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said three UN flights from Bangkok, Dhaka and Dubai were still awaiting clearance by Burmese authorities. | |
WFP spokesman Paul Risley told AP news agency: "It is especially frustrating that critically needed food aid is being held up." | |
Late on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Burma had to let the international community help. | Late on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Burma had to let the international community help. |
"It should be a simple matter. It's not a matter of politics. It's a matter of a humanitarian crisis," she said. | "It should be a simple matter. It's not a matter of politics. It's a matter of a humanitarian crisis," she said. |
Surin Pitsuwan, the secretary general of Asean, the Association of South-East Asian Nations, said it was trying to communicate to the military regime the sense of urgency on aid. | |
"I hope that we will have an opening before it's too late," he said. | |
The military regime has meanwhile urged citizens to ignore rumours of looting, with state media saying they were being spread by "unscrupulous persons". | |
'Mistrustful' | 'Mistrustful' |
On Wednesday, the top US diplomat in Burma said that the number of deaths could be much higher than reported. | On Wednesday, the top US diplomat in Burma said that the number of deaths could be much higher than reported. |
Before and after: extent of flooding clear in Nasa satellite imagesEnlarge Image | Before and after: extent of flooding clear in Nasa satellite imagesEnlarge Image |
Burmese state media says 22,980 people have been confirmed dead and another 42,119 are missing. | |
But Shari Villarosa, the charge d'affaires of the US embassy in Burma said the death toll could reach or exceed 100,000, based on information from a non-governmental organisation that she would not name. | |
A local military official, Tin Win, told AFP news agency 80,000 had died in the remote district of Labutta alone. | |
Survivors in the district described the sea surge brought by Saturday's storm. | |
"The waves were so strong, they ripped off all my clothes. I was left naked hanging in a tree," one teenager said. | |
"The storm came into our village, and a giant wave washed in, dragging everything into the sea," said another man in his 20s. | "The storm came into our village, and a giant wave washed in, dragging everything into the sea," said another man in his 20s. |
The BBC's Paul Danahar, in southern Burma, says that those still alive are surrounded by the dead - and they are without food and shelter. | The BBC's Paul Danahar, in southern Burma, says that those still alive are surrounded by the dead - and they are without food and shelter. |
He adds that while some aid is trickling into the country, much more is lying idle on its borders. | |
This weekend there is to be a referendum on a new constitution. The international community has already condemned it as a sham. | This weekend there is to be a referendum on a new constitution. The international community has already condemned it as a sham. |
The generals may be worried that letting in foreigners ahead of the that poll could stoke more criticism of their political reforms, our correspondent says. | The generals may be worried that letting in foreigners ahead of the that poll could stoke more criticism of their political reforms, our correspondent says. |
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. |