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Confusion over US aid for Burma UN aid flights to Burma under way
(40 minutes later)
The US says it has not yet been given permission to fly aid into cyclone-hit Burma - despite reports that it had. The UN says its first aid flight has now arrived in Burma, bringing much needed relief to up to one million people made homeless by Cyclone Nargis.
The US ambassador to Thailand said it was unclear whether there had been a U-turn by Burma or "miscommunication". The flights had been delayed amid growing international concern over Burma's reluctance to accept help.
There has been growing international concern over the military regime's reluctance to accept help. The US says it has not yet been given permission to fly aid into Burma - despite earlier reports that it had.
However, the UN has now confirmed its first aid flight has landed in Burma. Cyclone Nargis killed tens of thousands of people and left a million homeless. Burmese state media say 22,980 people were killed by Nargis but there are fears the figure could rise to 100,000.
It smashed into the low-lying Irrawaddy delta region on Saturday. The cyclone smashed into the low-lying Irrawaddy delta region on Saturday.
The BBC's Paul Danahar, who is in southern Burma, says he has seen the terrible trail of destruction, with survivors scavenging to find some shelter.The BBC's Paul Danahar, who is in southern Burma, says he has seen the terrible trail of destruction, with survivors scavenging to find some shelter.
They are living with thousands of corpses, polluting their environment, with the risk of disease taking hold getting worse by the day. They are living among thousands of corpses, polluting their environment, and the risk of disease taking hold is getting worse by the day.
Normally after a natural disaster, he says, roads are choked with relief effort but these into the Irrawaddy delta are empty. Normally after a natural disaster, he says, roads are choked by the relief effort, but those into the Irrawaddy delta are empty.
DelaysDelays
The US ambassador to Thailand, Eric John, called a news conference to address the issue of aid flights. The first UN relief plane arrived in Rangoon on Thursday from Italy, carrying high-energy biscuits, medicine and other supplies.
"This morning, we and our Thai allies thought we had a decision from the Burmese leadership to let the C-130 (Hercules transport aircraft) in. As of now, we don't have that decision. EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/06_05_08_unosat_myanmar.pdf">UN map of worst-hit areas, based on satellite imagery [1.13MB] Most computers will open this PDF, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7387050.stm">UK agencies launch appeal class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7389576.stm">No help and no news class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7389607.stm">Burma: The aid effort
Three more UN flights are expected to land later on Thursday.
The UN World Food Programme said concern about the military siphoning off aid was one reason for the delay.
WFP regional director Anthony Banbury said: "We will not just bring our supplies to an airport, dump it and take off."
The UN said its four-member disaster assessment and co-ordination team had now been given visas to travel to Burma.
UN spokeswoman Elizabeth Byrs said the move "shows a certain openness so far, but it is still too slow. Our country team [in Burma] is over-stretched".
Meanwhile, the US ambassador to Thailand, Eric John, called a news conference to address the issue of aid flights.
HAVE YOUR SAY Instead of criticising the generals, the world community should send aid and disaster management experts according to the terms and conditions of the Burmese governmentFrancis, Port BlairSend us your comments
"This morning, we and our Thai allies thought we had a decision from the Burmese leadership to let the C-130 (Hercules transport aircraft) in. As of now, we don't have that decision," he said.
"I don't know whether they rescinded the decision or if there was a miscommunication.""I don't know whether they rescinded the decision or if there was a miscommunication."
EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION UN map of worst-hit areas, based on satellite imagery [1.13MB] Most computers will open this PDF, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here Aid worker's diaryUK agencies launch appealNo help and no news
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says Burma's generals have always been intensely suspicious of outside interference and the US has all but called for regime change in Burma.The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says Burma's generals have always been intensely suspicious of outside interference and the US has all but called for regime change in Burma.
If countries were allowed to begin aid flights, our correspondent says, Burma could experience the biggest international presence in its recent history.If countries were allowed to begin aid flights, our correspondent says, Burma could experience the biggest international presence in its recent history.
The first UN aid flight, carrying vital food supplies, landed in Rangoon after two days of delays.
The UN World Food Programme said concern about the military siphoning off aid was one reason for the delay.
WFP regional director Anthony Banbury said: "We will not just bring our supplies to an airport, dump it and take off."
The UN also said its four-member disaster assessment and co-ordination team had now been given visas to travel to Burma.
Before and after: extent of flooding clear in Nasa satellite imagesEnlarge Image
The regional Association of South-East Asian Nations had earlier urged the military regime to allow in aid flights "before it's too late".The regional Association of South-East Asian Nations had earlier urged the military regime to allow in aid flights "before it's too late".
Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said it was trying to communicate to the military regime the sense of urgency.Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said it was trying to communicate to the military regime the sense of urgency.
China, a close ally of Burma, has also urged it to work with the international community. Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang added that Beijing would raise its relief aid to $5.3m. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1210169663/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1210169663/html/1.stm', '1210169681', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=780,height=335,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/americas_enl_1210169663/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1210169663/html/1.stm', '1210169681', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=780,height=335,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image
China, a close ally of Burma, has also urged it to work with the international community. Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang added that Beijing would raise its relief aid to $5.3m (£2.7m).
UK aid agencies have launched an urgent joint appeal to raise funds for victims. The Disasters Emergency Committee said the need for aid was "immediate and vast".UK aid agencies have launched an urgent joint appeal to raise funds for victims. The Disasters Emergency Committee said the need for aid was "immediate and vast".
The UK government said Burma was giving out "mixed signals" on access for aid agencies, with some being granted visas and others still waiting.
Death tollDeath toll
Burmese troops are pushing into the affected areas but our correspondent Jonathan Head says their resources are inadequate to deal with a disaster of this magnitude.Burmese troops are pushing into the affected areas but our correspondent Jonathan Head says their resources are inadequate to deal with a disaster of this magnitude.
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The devastation caused by the cyclone Destruction in the town of Labutta
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.
Burmese state media says 22,980 people have been confirmed dead and another 42,119 are missing. Burmese state media say 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.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.A local military official, Tin Win, told AFP news agency 80,000 had died in the remote district of Labutta alone.
There are reports that the Rangoon home of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the past 18 years, was damaged in the cyclone but that she is unhurt.There are reports that the Rangoon home of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the past 18 years, was damaged in the cyclone but that she is unhurt.
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.
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