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UN 'disappointed' at Burma access UN 'disappointed' at Burma access
(40 minutes later)
The UN says it is extremely disappointed at the slow progress made in securing access to victims of last weekend's cyclone in Burma.The UN says it is extremely disappointed at the slow progress made in securing access to victims of last weekend's cyclone in Burma.
Humanitarian chief John Holmes told reporters that Burma's response was "nothing like as much as is needed".Humanitarian chief John Holmes told reporters that Burma's response was "nothing like as much as is needed".
In addition to about 23,000 people who died in the storm and tidal surge, 1.5 million are at risk, he said.In addition to about 23,000 people who died in the storm and tidal surge, 1.5 million are at risk, he said.
The US has been denied permission to fly aid into Burma - and one official said they were considering air drops.The US has been denied permission to fly aid into Burma - and one official said they were considering air drops.
Some supplies have been allowed into Burma but many more tonnes of aid, and dozens of foreign staff, have not.Some supplies have been allowed into Burma but many more tonnes of aid, and dozens of foreign staff, have not.
In a statement, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that Burma's ruling junta planned to press ahead with a constitutional referendum on Saturday, except in the worst-hit areas.In a statement, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that Burma's ruling junta planned to press ahead with a constitutional referendum on Saturday, except in the worst-hit areas.
He said it might be "prudent to focus instead on mobilising all available resources and capacity for the emergency response efforts".He said it might be "prudent to focus instead on mobilising all available resources and capacity for the emergency response efforts".
Burmese state media say 22,980 people were killed by Nargis but there are fears the figure could rise to 100,000.Burmese state media say 22,980 people were killed by Nargis but there are fears the figure could rise to 100,000.
'Frustration growing''Frustration growing'
At his briefing with reporters on Wednesday, Mr Holmes said progress was being made in securing easier access to the many victims, but he is clearly losing patience, says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan at UN headquarters in New York.At his briefing with reporters on Wednesday, Mr Holmes said progress was being made in securing easier access to the many victims, but he is clearly losing patience, says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan at UN headquarters in New York.
Opponents of the junta say they are turning away aid for political reasons There is a real danger that an even worse tragedy may unfold if we cannot get the aid that's desperately needed in quickly John HolmesUN humanitarian head class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7389848.stm">See map and satellite images class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7389735.stm">Burma: How you can help class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7389576.stm">Eyewitness: terrible disruption class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7389607.stm">Burma: The aid effort
Mr Holmes warned that the situation was "increasingly desperate".Mr Holmes warned that the situation was "increasingly desperate".
As many as 1.5 million people were severely affected, he said, and there was a "real danger that an even worse tragedy will unfold if we can't get aid in. As many as 1.5 million people were severely affected, he said, and there was a "real danger that an even worse tragedy may unfold if we cannot get the aid that's desperately needed in quickly.
"Frustrations are growing about access," he said."Frustrations are growing about access," he said.
Four flights carrying supplies from the UN's World Food Programme arrived in Rangoon on Thursday, as well as an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) flight.Four flights carrying supplies from the UN's World Food Programme arrived in Rangoon on Thursday, as well as an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) flight.
But at least 40 UN expert staff are waiting in Bangkok for visas to enter Burma.But at least 40 UN expert staff are waiting in Bangkok for visas to enter Burma.
Mr Holmes said two out of four members of a specialist UN disaster assessment team had also been denied access when they arrived in Burma. Mr Holmes said two out of four members of a specialist UN disaster assessment team had also been denied access when they arrived in Burma, despite apparently having the correct documents.
Secretary General Ban is trying to talk to the Burmese leader, Gen Than Shwe, to persuade him to remove those obstacles.
Reports from Burma say rescue efforts in the worst-affected regions of the Irrawaddy delta and the environs of Rangoon are, at best, patchy.
Anger at the slow response to this catastrophe is muted so far, says a BBC correspondent in Rangoon.
But there is potential for that anger to turn political - and it may be for that reason that the military regime here has closed the main Buddhist temples, fearing that they could become the focus for open dissent, our correspondent says.
Air drops?Air drops?
And earlier reports that the US had been granted permission to fly in military planes loaded with its own supplies have not been borne out.And earlier reports that the US had been granted permission to fly in military planes loaded with its own supplies have not been borne out.
EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION Send us your commentsIn pictures: Burma five days onBlogging the cyclone
The US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzhad, said he was "outraged" by Burma's slow response to offers of help.The US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzhad, said he was "outraged" by Burma's slow response to offers of help.
Another US official, Ky Luu, director of the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance at USAid, said one possibility was that supplies could be air-dropped to the afflicted areas without waiting for permission from Burmese authorities. Another US official, Ky Luu, director of the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance at the US development agency USAID, said one possibility was that supplies could be air-dropped to the afflicted areas without waiting for permission from Burmese authorities.
But he said that would not be the most efficient way to get supplies in.But he said that would not be the most efficient way to get supplies in.
In addition, correspondents say, such a move might risk alienating Burma's regional allies. In addition, correspondents say, such a move might be seen as a violation of sovereignty and risk alienating Burma's regional allies.
France has once again said it wants to raise the crisis in Burma at the UN Security Council - but China and Indonesia have countered that the humanitarian problem should not be politicised.