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First Burma aid plane to leave UK First Burma aid plane to leave UK
(about 2 hours later)
The first flight from the UK carrying aid to Burma is due to leave from East Midlands airport - 12 days after a cyclone devastated the country.The first flight from the UK carrying aid to Burma is due to leave from East Midlands airport - 12 days after a cyclone devastated the country.
The flight, chartered by Cornish-based charity Shelterbox, will contain 1,000 boxes containing tents, mosquito nets, tools and water purifying tablets. The flight, chartered by Cornwall-based charity Shelterbox, will contain 1,000 boxes containing tents, mosquito nets, tools and water purifying tablets.
Other flights chartered by British aid organisations have been leaving from overseas locations.Other flights chartered by British aid organisations have been leaving from overseas locations.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Cyclone appeal has now raised £6m.The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Cyclone appeal has now raised £6m.
Shelterbox has received permission from the Burmese government for the plane to land at Yangon airport on Thursday.Shelterbox has received permission from the Burmese government for the plane to land at Yangon airport on Thursday.
It's not good enough because the regime is still preventing aid getting in to the rest of the country Gordon Brown Brown seeks UN talks on Burma It's not good enough because the regime is still preventing aid getting in to the rest of the country Gordon Brown Brown seeks UN talks on Burma class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7394224.stm">Cyclone appeal nets £5m
Two American Shelterbox staff, who have obtained visas, will be on the flight along with 1,000 shelter boxes. Each box contains a 10-person tent and other equipment designed to enable a family of up to 10 people survive for at least six months. Two American Shelterbox staff, who have obtained visas, will be on the flight along with 1,000 shelter boxes.
The need for supplies is urgent. The UN estimate that over a million survivors are yet to receive help, and concerns are mounting amid predictions that another cyclone is forming off Burma's coast. The United Nations estimate that over a million survivors are yet to receive help, and concerns are mounting amid predictions that another cyclone is forming off Burma's coast.
The Burmese government are now giving permission on a piecemeal basis for other aid flights to land.The Burmese government are now giving permission on a piecemeal basis for other aid flights to land.
The Red Cross has got 10 aid flights into the country and another seven have permission to land by the end of this week. Most of the flights take off from Kuala Lumpur. The UK Department for International Development (Dfid) estimates that between 40-45 aid flights have arrived in Rangoon over the last 10 days.
However, the Burmese authorities are continuing to hamper the efforts of aid workers to distribute supplies inside the country. But there are serious concerns because the Burmese authorities are continuing to hamper the efforts of aid workers to distribute supplies inside the country.
A UN official says the military has erected checkpoints to stop foreigners getting into the worst-affected areas.A UN official says the military has erected checkpoints to stop foreigners getting into the worst-affected areas.
Gordon Brown, meanwhile, has called on the UN to convene an emergency summit.Gordon Brown, meanwhile, has called on the UN to convene an emergency summit.
There are predictions that another cyclone is forming off the Burma coastThere are predictions that another cyclone is forming off the Burma coast
At Commons question time, he said there has been an improvement in the number of relief planes being allowed in, but it was still "not good enough" because the regime was preventing aid getting to the rest of the country.At Commons question time, he said there has been an improvement in the number of relief planes being allowed in, but it was still "not good enough" because the regime was preventing aid getting to the rest of the country.
Conservative leader David Cameron called on the Prime Minister to set a deadline after which emergency aid drops would be enforced.Conservative leader David Cameron called on the Prime Minister to set a deadline after which emergency aid drops would be enforced.
Flat-bottomed boatsFlat-bottomed boats
Among the flights to have landed is the first flight sponsored by the UK Department for International Development (Dfid), which arrived in Burma on Wednesday. Among the flights to have landed is the first flight sponsored by Dfid, which arrived in Burma on Wednesday.
The UN and its partners have so far reached only 270,000 of the estimated 1.5 million survivors Elisabeth Byers, UN spokeswoman
The flight, containing collapsible water cans and tarpaulins to shelter 9,000 families, was loaded from a warehouse in Dubai.The flight, containing collapsible water cans and tarpaulins to shelter 9,000 families, was loaded from a warehouse in Dubai.
Three more Dfid flights are scheduled to leave from Dubai later this week, and a fourth flight is due to take off from Paris on Thursday containing 14 flat-bottomed boats. Five further Dfid flights are scheduled to fly out this week. Items to be sent include 14 flat-bottomed boats, heavy-lifting equipment to ensure fast unloading at Rangoon airport and plastic sheeting to provide shelter.
A Dfid spokesperson said boats were badly needed to get aid safely into flooded areas.A Dfid spokesperson said boats were badly needed to get aid safely into flooded areas.
A Red Cross shipment of aid was lost earlier in the week when the boat carrying the load hit a submerged tree. The UN and its partners have so far reached only 270,000 of the estimated 1.5 million survivors Elisabeth Byers, UN spokeswoman
Water purification units The Royal Navy ship HMS Westminster, which has been sent to the region to help humanitarian operations, is also expected to arrive off the Burmese coast soon.
The Disasters Emergency Committee, which has 13 members including the British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Concern, Oxfam, Save the Children and Tearfund launches and co-ordinates responses to major disasters overseas. The Red Cross have got 10 flights in, with another seven scheduled to leave by the end of the week.
Among those who have contributed to the DEC Myanmar (Burma) cyclone appeal are the Queen and Harry Potter author JK Rowling. Water purification
The money is already being spent. DEC, which has 13 members including the British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Concern, Oxfam, Save the Children and Tearfund launches and co-ordinates responses to major disasters.
Its appeal has attracted £6m in a week, including contributions from the Queen and Harry Potter author JK Rowling, with the money already starting to be spent.
Two large water purification units have arrived and once up and running, they will produce over a million litres of clean water a day.Two large water purification units have arrived and once up and running, they will produce over a million litres of clean water a day.
Tearfund say its relief teams have got food, water, shelter and medical supplies to 23,000 people.Tearfund say its relief teams have got food, water, shelter and medical supplies to 23,000 people.
Christian Aid is aiming to reach 100,000 with blankets, medicines and water purification equipment.Christian Aid is aiming to reach 100,000 with blankets, medicines and water purification equipment.
Concern is distributing 75 tonnes of rice, as well as pulses, cooking oil, salt, sugar and tarpaulins to 6,000 survivors in the coming days.Concern is distributing 75 tonnes of rice, as well as pulses, cooking oil, salt, sugar and tarpaulins to 6,000 survivors in the coming days.
Dfid estimates that up to 200,000 are dead or missing and 1.5 million are in urgent need of immediate assistance - of which 300,000 are desperately in need.
Burmese state media is reporting that 28,458 are dead and 33,416 missing.