This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7393270.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Burma warned over cyclone delays | Burma warned over cyclone delays |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The UN's humanitarian chief has urged Burma to reconsider its attitude towards allowing aid teams into the country to help cyclone victims. | The UN's humanitarian chief has urged Burma to reconsider its attitude towards allowing aid teams into the country to help cyclone victims. |
| Announcing a $187m (£96m) flash appeal, John Holmes said it was time to act fast or risk more lives being lost. | Announcing a $187m (£96m) flash appeal, John Holmes said it was time to act fast or risk more lives being lost. |
| Burma's envoy to the UN thanked the international community for their solidarity and generosity, saying it would accept aid from any quarter. | Burma's envoy to the UN thanked the international community for their solidarity and generosity, saying it would accept aid from any quarter. |
| Burma says 22,980 people died, but the UN fears the toll could reach 100,000. | Burma says 22,980 people died, but the UN fears the toll could reach 100,000. |
| The UN believes as many as 1.5 million people could have been affected by Cyclone Nargis, which struck on 3 May, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. | The UN believes as many as 1.5 million people could have been affected by Cyclone Nargis, which struck on 3 May, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. |
| I do appeal very strongly indeed to the government of Myanmar (Burma) both to step up their own relief efforts to help people on the ground and to change their attitude completely to the efforts that we are making to get these relief supplies in John HolmesUN Emergency Relief Co-ordinator class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7389911.stm">Rangoon's hardship class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7392662.stm">World wrestles with aid issue class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7393058.stm">Why vote trumps storm for junta | |
| About 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles) of farmland in the Irrawaddy delta are now under water, littered with thousands of corpses. | About 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles) of farmland in the Irrawaddy delta are now under water, littered with thousands of corpses. |
| Aid agencies say the lack of access to clean drinking water and outbreaks of communicable diseases such as dengue and malaria are a major concern. | Aid agencies say the lack of access to clean drinking water and outbreaks of communicable diseases such as dengue and malaria are a major concern. |
| The country's ruling generals have faced mounting criticism over their handling of the crisis, their reluctance to allow international aid teams into the country and their insistence on distributing aid themselves. | The country's ruling generals have faced mounting criticism over their handling of the crisis, their reluctance to allow international aid teams into the country and their insistence on distributing aid themselves. |
| The World Food Programme is in talks with the government after tonnes of aid it flew into Burma was impounded by the military authorities, who wanted to control its distribution. | The World Food Programme is in talks with the government after tonnes of aid it flew into Burma was impounded by the military authorities, who wanted to control its distribution. |
| The UN agency had threatened to suspend relief flights, but later said they would resume on Saturday, while negotiations continue. | The UN agency had threatened to suspend relief flights, but later said they would resume on Saturday, while negotiations continue. |
| Delay considered | Delay considered |
| The Burmese UN envoy, Ambassador Kyaw Tint Swe, said the first US relief flight was expected to arrive on Monday. | The Burmese UN envoy, Ambassador Kyaw Tint Swe, said the first US relief flight was expected to arrive on Monday. |
| Other aid has been pouring in from Burma's allies, such as China and Thailand, and Burma-based aid agency workers have been doing what they can. | Other aid has been pouring in from Burma's allies, such as China and Thailand, and Burma-based aid agency workers have been doing what they can. |
| Advertisement | |
| Listen to a BBC Correspondent and Tim Costello from World Vision on Radio 4's The World At One. | |
| But aid experts say Burma does not have the capacity to respond to the emergency effectively. | But aid experts say Burma does not have the capacity to respond to the emergency effectively. |
| Announcing the UN appeal, Mr Holmes said it was vital that any obstacles that had hindered aid deliveries until now be resolved soon. | Announcing the UN appeal, Mr Holmes said it was vital that any obstacles that had hindered aid deliveries until now be resolved soon. |
| "If we do not act now and do not act fast, more lives will be lost," he said. | "If we do not act now and do not act fast, more lives will be lost," he said. |
| AID PLEDGES UK $10mUN $10mJapan $10mUS $3mFrance $3mAustralia $2.8m In pictures: Cyclone survivors | |
| Mr Holmes said he had considered postponing the appeal launch because of the "extra difficulties facing UN aid shipments and access for humanitarian staff". | Mr Holmes said he had considered postponing the appeal launch because of the "extra difficulties facing UN aid shipments and access for humanitarian staff". |
| But he said the priority had to be to reach "people in such desperate need on the ground". | But he said the priority had to be to reach "people in such desperate need on the ground". |
| The appeal, which will be reviewed as a clearer picture of the extent of the devastation is known, will be used to provide food, logistics, temporary shelters and health needs. | The appeal, which will be reviewed as a clearer picture of the extent of the devastation is known, will be used to provide food, logistics, temporary shelters and health needs. |
| Polls to open | Polls to open |
| An aid worker in Burma, Tim Costello, chief executive of World Vision Australia, warned of an epidemic of "apocalyptic proportions" if aid did not get through. | An aid worker in Burma, Tim Costello, chief executive of World Vision Australia, warned of an epidemic of "apocalyptic proportions" if aid did not get through. |
| Mr Costello said the Burmese government did not have the capacity to run the relief effort required, adding that the impact of Cyclone Nargis could be worse than the effect of the Asian tsunami on Sri Lanka and Indonesia. | Mr Costello said the Burmese government did not have the capacity to run the relief effort required, adding that the impact of Cyclone Nargis could be worse than the effect of the Asian tsunami on Sri Lanka and Indonesia. |
| He urged donors to continue giving, saying the aid teams already in the country were helping make a difference. | He urged donors to continue giving, saying the aid teams already in the country were helping make a difference. |
| As negotiations and relief efforts continue, Burma is also preparing for a national referendum on a new constitution to be held on Saturday. | As negotiations and relief efforts continue, Burma is also preparing for a national referendum on a new constitution to be held on Saturday. |
| EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION See map and satellite imagesSend us your comments | |
| The vote has been put off for two weeks in the worst-hit areas. | The vote has been put off for two weeks in the worst-hit areas. |
| The government says the referendum will pave the way for democratic elections in 2010, while the opposition says it is intended to tighten the generals' rule. | The government says the referendum will pave the way for democratic elections in 2010, while the opposition says it is intended to tighten the generals' rule. |
| The BBC's Andrew Harding says it is a gamble and now there is a chance that public anger could translate into big "No" vote, particularly given the military handling of the storm's aftermath. | The BBC's Andrew Harding says it is a gamble and now there is a chance that public anger could translate into big "No" vote, particularly given the military handling of the storm's aftermath. |
| 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. |