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Foreign envoys to see Burma delta Foreign envoys to see Burma delta
(about 1 hour later)
Foreign diplomats in Burma have said the military government has promised to take them on a tour of the disaster-hit areas of the Irrawaddy delta. Foreign diplomats in Burma say the military government has promised to take them on a tour of areas of the Irrawaddy delta hit by Cyclone Nargis.
But the international community remains frustrated at the slow progress of aid to the region hit by Cyclone Nargis. But the international community remains frustrated at the slow progress of aid after the disaster, which left more than 70,000 people dead or missing.
A BBC reporter visiting the area said there was little sign of official help, and foreign aid workers were banned. A BBC reporter in the delta saw little sign of official help and foreign aid workers have been barred.
A UN spokeswoman said Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon had still not been able to speak to Burma's military rulers. UN chief Ban Ki-Moon is still waiting to speak to Burma's military rulers.
Michelle Montas told the BBC that the phone had been ringing but no one was picking up. A UN spokeswoman, Michelle Montas, told the BBC the phone had been ringing but no one was picking up.
Official death figures from Burma - also known as Myanmar - have risen to more than 43,000, with nearly 28,000 missing, but the Red Cross and UN both say the toll could top 100,000. While official death figures from Burma - also known as Myanmar - have risen to more than 43,000, with nearly 28,000 missing, the Red Cross and UN both say the toll could top 100,000.
Heavy rain has been lashing the delta, compounding the misery of survivors.
No aid in deltaNo aid in delta
Shari Villarosa, the charge d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Burma, told the Associated Press that a group of diplomats would be taken to the delta region on Saturday. A group of diplomats will be taken to the delta region on Saturday, Shari Villarosa, charge d'affaires at the US embassy told The Associated Press. I have always despised this government, now I really hate them Irrawaddy Delta resident class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7403938.stm">Survivors angered by government
I have always despised this government, now I really hate them Irrawaddy Delta resident class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7403938.stm">Survivors angered by government It is not clear how much access the diplomats will have to areas outside the official tour route. It is not clear how much access the diplomats will have to areas outside the official tour route.
While envoys are ramping up pressure on Burma, the country's prime minister has said the emergency relief phase has already finished, and rebuilding is now beginning. The BBC's Natalia Antelava reports that the muddy banks of the Irrawaddy Delta are lined with white, swollen bodies and the air reeks of rotting flesh.
But the BBC's Natalia Antelava reports that the muddy banks of the Irrawaddy Delta are lined with white, swollen bodies and the air reeks of rotting flesh. Bereaved survivors there lack fresh water and have barely enough rice to get by, our correspondent says.
Nearly two weeks after the cyclone struck, survivors who have lost loved ones have no fresh water and just enough rice to get by, our correspondent says. The EU's top aid official, Louis Michel, failed to get permission to travel to the delta and was leaving Burma on Friday.
While the military government has put impressive effort into clean-up operations in the former capital, Rangoon, she reports, there was no sign of an aid operation as she travelled into the delta by boat.
Burma's authorities have welcomed aid donations from all over the world, but only a few foreign experts have been allowed into the country to help organise the relief effort.
'Time to save lives'
The EU's top aid official, Louis Michel, said he had not yet gained permission to travel to the worst affected area. He is due to leave Burma on Friday.
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People wait for help in the worst-hit Irrawaddy DeltaPeople wait for help in the worst-hit Irrawaddy Delta
"I requested to go into the delta but was not allowed to enter yesterday. I am still hoping to go today," he told AFP news agency.
He said he had been taken to "a rather perfect, organised camp" near Rangoon.He said he had been taken to "a rather perfect, organised camp" near Rangoon.
Many relief workers are awaiting visas and most of those who have been allowed into the country remain confined to Rangoon.Many relief workers are awaiting visas and most of those who have been allowed into the country remain confined to Rangoon.
Mr Michel said he had only been told his requests for more visas would be considered. Mr Michel asked why disaster emergency experts were being refused visas.
'Rebuilding stage' "They didn't answer the question, and they did not give any reason," he said.
Burma's military leadership has signalled it is not prepared to change its policy on the relief effort. Water alert
EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7389848.stm">See map and satellite images class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7401542.stm">The slow trickle of aid class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7398313.stm">Urgent EU mission class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4736&edition=1">Send us your comments Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein has announced that the "first phase of emergency relief" is over and that the focus is now on reconstruction.
"We have already finished our first phase of emergency relief. We are going onto the second phase, the rebuilding stage," Prime Minister Thein Sein was quoted as saying by Burmese state television. EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7389848.stm">See map and satellite images class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4736&edition=1">Send us your comments
Top British diplomat Mark Malloch Brown lambasted Burmese authorities for not facilitating the flow of aid. Large quantities of international aid are being delivered to the region but are awaiting permission for delivery to areas hardest-hit by the cyclone.
"We are way behind the curve compared to any other international disaster in recent memory," he said. According to the Red Cross, aid agencies have been able to reach only around 20% to 30% of cyclone victims and hundreds of thousands of people are at risk of diseases such as dysentery because of lack of clean water.
"I cannot recall a relief operation where, at least the international response has been subjected to such delays." "If clean water isn't available, it's going to be the biggest killer in the post-disaster environment," Thomas Gurtner told The Associated Press.
Donors meeting "Food is urgent but you die in three days from acute diarrhoea. You die of starvation in a period of weeks.
Large quantities of international aid are being delivered to the region and awaiting permission for delivery to areas hardest-hit by the cyclone. "The immediate life-savers are water and shelter."
HAVE YOUR SAYBurma is in a difficult state and I feel that the world should not give upTanya, LiverpoolSend us your comments
A French plane loaded with 40 tonnes of rations was allowed to land in Rangoon on Wednesday and a naval ship laden with aid was headed to the country in the hope it would be allowed to dock there.
The Association of South East Asian Nations is due to hold a high-level meeting in the coming days that is expected to lay the framework for a broader aid donors conference.The Association of South East Asian Nations is due to hold a high-level meeting in the coming days that is expected to lay the framework for a broader aid donors conference.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross is due to launch an appeal for more aid two weeks after the storm hit.
Burma's military leadership has warned that those who hoard or sell aid on the black market will be prosecuted, amid international reports of misuse of some aid shipments.Burma's military leadership has warned that those who hoard or sell aid on the black market will be prosecuted, amid international reports of misuse of some aid shipments.
The generals have also lauded what they said was a 92% approval of a new constitution in a referendum held last Saturday.The generals have also lauded what they said was a 92% approval of a new constitution in a referendum held last Saturday.
Are you in Burma or have friends and family there? Or Are you an aid worker involved in the relief work? Tell us about your experience using the form below:Are you in Burma or have friends and family there? Or Are you an aid worker involved in the relief work? Tell us about your experience using the form below:
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