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Burma 'wants aid not foreigners' Burma 'wants aid not foreigners'
(20 minutes later)
Burma wants supplies but not foreign aid workers, its foreign ministry says, hours after the UN chief urged military leaders to prioritise relief work.Burma wants supplies but not foreign aid workers, its foreign ministry says, hours after the UN chief urged military leaders to prioritise relief work.
Burma was "making strenuous efforts" to get aid to affected areas by itself and was not ready for foreign teams, a statement in a state daily said. Burma is "making strenuous efforts" to get aid to affected areas by itself and was not ready for foreign teams, a statement in a state daily says.
On Thursday UN officials expressed mounting frustration over Burma's failure to accept international help.On Thursday UN officials expressed mounting frustration over Burma's failure to accept international help.
Some aid has made it in, but experts stress that it is nothing like enough.Some aid has made it in, but experts stress that it is nothing like enough.
The UN says that up to 1.5 million people may have been affected by Cyclone Nargis, which devastated the Irrawaddy Delta region on Saturday. Burmese state media say 22,980 people were killed, but there are fears the figure could rise to 100,000.The UN says that up to 1.5 million people may have been affected by Cyclone Nargis, which devastated the Irrawaddy Delta region on Saturday. Burmese state media say 22,980 people were killed, but there are fears the figure could rise to 100,000.
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 Burma: How you can helpEyewitness: Terrible disruptionBurma: The aid effort
Hundreds of thousands of people have no food, water or shelter. Officials say people could die because no help is getting to them.Hundreds of thousands of people have no food, water or shelter. Officials say people could die because no help is getting to them.
In a statement, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the junta to prioritise the aid effort over tomorrow's nation-wide referendum on a widely-criticised new constitution.In a statement, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the junta to prioritise the aid effort over tomorrow's nation-wide referendum on a widely-criticised new constitution.
It would be "prudent to focus instead on mobilising all available resources and capacity for the emergency response efforts", he said.It would be "prudent to focus instead on mobilising all available resources and capacity for the emergency response efforts", he said.
'Not ready''Not ready'
But based on the foreign ministry statement, Burma's government appears unwilling to cooperate.But based on the foreign ministry statement, Burma's government appears unwilling to cooperate.
It would accept cash or emergency aid, it said, but not international teams.It would accept cash or emergency aid, it said, but not international teams.
EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION See map and satellite imagesSend us your commentsIn pictures: Burma five days onBlogging the cyclone
"Currently Myanmar (Burma) has prioritised receiving emergency relief provisions and is making strenuous efforts to transport those provisions without delay by its own labours to the affected areas," it said."Currently Myanmar (Burma) has prioritised receiving emergency relief provisions and is making strenuous efforts to transport those provisions without delay by its own labours to the affected areas," it said.
"As such, Myanmar is not ready to receive search and rescue teams as well as media teams from foreign countries.""As such, Myanmar is not ready to receive search and rescue teams as well as media teams from foreign countries."
An aid team and journalists who arrived on a flight from Qatar had been deported, it said.
A BBC correspondent in the storm-hit region says Burmese troops have begun distributing significantly more aid.A BBC correspondent in the storm-hit region says Burmese troops have begun distributing significantly more aid.
But international experts agree that the military regime lacks the resources to coordinate an effective relief effort, given the magnitude of the disaster.
It has accepted limited help - some countries which have good relations with Burma have flown aid in.
Four flights carrying supplies from the UN's World Food Programme arrived in Rangoon on Thursday, as did 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 did 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 - and two members of a specialist UN disaster assessment team were also denied access when they arrived in Burma, despite apparently having the correct documents. But at least 40 UN expert staff are waiting in Bangkok for visas - and two members of a specialist UN disaster assessment team were also denied access when they arrived in Burma, despite apparently having the correct documents.
On Thursday, the UN's humanitarian chief, John Holmes, told reporters that Burma's response to the disaster was "nothing like as much as is needed".On Thursday, the UN's humanitarian chief, John Holmes, told reporters that Burma's response to the disaster was "nothing like as much as is needed".
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".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".
The US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzhad, said he was "outraged" by Burma's slow response to offers of help. Reports suggested the US had been granted permission to fly in supplies using military planes - but officials later said no agreement had been reached.
/> 		"We are in a long line of nations who are ready, willing and able to help, but also, of course, in a long line of nations the Burmese don't trust," US Ambassador Eric John said in Bangkok.
"It's more than frustrating. It's a tragedy," he said.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has offered to act as an intermediary and ask Burma's generals to open the door to Western aid.
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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