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| UN calls for Burma aid corridor | UN calls for Burma aid corridor |
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| Relief for those affected by Cyclone Nargis has been slow to arrive | |
| The United Nations has called for an air or sea corridor to be opened to channel large amounts of aid to the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma. | The United Nations has called for an air or sea corridor to be opened to channel large amounts of aid to the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma. |
| A spokeswoman for the UN humanitarian agency in Geneva said there was a risk of a second catastrophe unless a massive operation was put in place. | A spokeswoman for the UN humanitarian agency in Geneva said there was a risk of a second catastrophe unless a massive operation was put in place. |
| The UN has only been able to reach between a fifth and a quarter of the estimated 1.5 million people in need. | The UN has only been able to reach between a fifth and a quarter of the estimated 1.5 million people in need. |
| Burma's military leaders oppose the entry of foreign aid workers. | Burma's military leaders oppose the entry of foreign aid workers. |
| Vice-Admiral Soe Thein, of the country's military leadership, said it was grateful for the aid shipment from the United States which arrived on Monday, but insisted that so far there was no need for aid workers. | Vice-Admiral Soe Thein, of the country's military leadership, said it was grateful for the aid shipment from the United States which arrived on Monday, but insisted that so far there was no need for aid workers. |
| The US has said it hopes to send in two more transport aircraft carrying aid later on Tuesday. Two lorries carrying relief supplies overland have also now arrived in Rangoon. | The US has said it hopes to send in two more transport aircraft carrying aid later on Tuesday. Two lorries carrying relief supplies overland have also now arrived in Rangoon. |
| Aid workers have complained that much of the aid delivered over the past week has not reached those who need it, because the Burmese military insists on controlling most of the distribution - despite lacking the equipment and expertise to do it well. | Aid workers have complained that much of the aid delivered over the past week has not reached those who need it, because the Burmese military insists on controlling most of the distribution - despite lacking the equipment and expertise to do it well. |
| They describe delivering supplies in the Irrawaddy Delta with dugout canoes, and say they are badly overstretched. | They describe delivering supplies in the Irrawaddy Delta with dugout canoes, and say they are badly overstretched. |
| 'Immense frustration' | 'Immense frustration' |
| The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says that much of the aid which has arrived in the country has sat at the airport for days. | The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says that much of the aid which has arrived in the country has sat at the airport for days. |
| He adds that after more heavy rain, the survivors are living in wretched conditions, and the fear of a further wave of deaths from disease is a real one. EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION See map and satellite imagesBurmese begin to rebuildUrgent EU mission | He adds that after more heavy rain, the survivors are living in wretched conditions, and the fear of a further wave of deaths from disease is a real one. EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION See map and satellite imagesBurmese begin to rebuildUrgent EU mission |
| On Monday UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his "immense frustration" at what he described as Burma's "unacceptably slow" response to the cyclone, which hit the country 10 days ago. | On Monday UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his "immense frustration" at what he described as Burma's "unacceptably slow" response to the cyclone, which hit the country 10 days ago. |
| Mr Ban said aid had been able to reach less than a third of all those at risk, and added that he had still not been able to speak to the leader of Burma's military government, General Than Shwe. | Mr Ban said aid had been able to reach less than a third of all those at risk, and added that he had still not been able to speak to the leader of Burma's military government, General Than Shwe. |
| The official toll for the cyclone has risen to almost 32,000, although foreign aid workers say the real number of dead may be much higher. | The official toll for the cyclone has risen to almost 32,000, although foreign aid workers say the real number of dead may be much higher. |
| "We are at a critical point. Unless more aid gets into the country very quickly, we face an outbreak of infectious diseases that could dwarf today's current crisis," Mr Ban said. | "We are at a critical point. Unless more aid gets into the country very quickly, we face an outbreak of infectious diseases that could dwarf today's current crisis," Mr Ban said. |
| "I therefore call in the most strenuous terms on the government of Myanmar (Burma) to put its people's lives first." | "I therefore call in the most strenuous terms on the government of Myanmar (Burma) to put its people's lives first." |
| 'Slow response' | 'Slow response' |
| US President George W Bush added his voice, describing Burma's leaders as either "isolated or callous". | US President George W Bush added his voice, describing Burma's leaders as either "isolated or callous". |
| "There's no telling how many people have lost their lives as a result of the slow response," he told CBS radio. | "There's no telling how many people have lost their lives as a result of the slow response," he told CBS radio. |
| An aid worker's account of conditions in Burma's Delta region (12 May) | An aid worker's account of conditions in Burma's Delta region (12 May) |
| The US aid flight which arrived in Rangoon on Monday, after days of negotiation, was carrying 12,700kg of supplies including mosquito nets, blankets and water. | The US aid flight which arrived in Rangoon on Monday, after days of negotiation, was carrying 12,700kg of supplies including mosquito nets, blankets and water. |
| In addition, aircraft from medical relief agencies Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and Medecins du Monde (MDM) arrived, loaded with a total of 56 tonnes of aid. | In addition, aircraft from medical relief agencies Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and Medecins du Monde (MDM) arrived, loaded with a total of 56 tonnes of aid. |
| UN humanitarian head John Holmes said there had been "some slight improvement again in the last few days, particularly in the last 24 hours." | UN humanitarian head John Holmes said there had been "some slight improvement again in the last few days, particularly in the last 24 hours." |
| Thirty-four visas for UN staff were being granted or expected to be granted, he said. | Thirty-four visas for UN staff were being granted or expected to be granted, he said. |
| But he added that this was "clearly nothing like enough for the scale of the problem we're trying to deal with". | But he added that this was "clearly nothing like enough for the scale of the problem we're trying to deal with". |
| In the Irrawaddy delta, the area worst affected by the cyclone, people have been left without shelter, crops, and stored rice. | In the Irrawaddy delta, the area worst affected by the cyclone, people have been left without shelter, crops, and stored rice. |
| With little access to food or clean drinking water, they face cholera, fever and other illnesses. | With little access to food or clean drinking water, they face cholera, fever and other illnesses. |
| Mr Ban said the UN had been able to reach some 270,000 people, providing only "the most rudimentary assistance". | Mr Ban said the UN had been able to reach some 270,000 people, providing only "the most rudimentary assistance". |
| He said food aid provided so far might amount to less than a 10th of what was needed, and that rice stocks were "close to exhaustion". | He said food aid provided so far might amount to less than a 10th of what was needed, and that rice stocks were "close to exhaustion". |
| The EU is to hold an emergency meeting on getting aid to Burma later today. | The EU is to hold an emergency meeting on getting aid to Burma later today. |
| 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. |