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| Burma aid situation 'improving' | Burma aid situation 'improving' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A UK minister, who is in Rangoon to press Burma's leaders to do more for Cyclone Nargis victims, says the aid operation "is now starting to move". | A UK minister, who is in Rangoon to press Burma's leaders to do more for Cyclone Nargis victims, says the aid operation "is now starting to move". |
| Lord Malloch-Brown says that although only about 25% of victims have received the help they need, he saw UK and US aid being unloaded at Rangoon airport. | Lord Malloch-Brown says that although only about 25% of victims have received the help they need, he saw UK and US aid being unloaded at Rangoon airport. |
| His comments came just before a UN humanitarian envoy arrived in Burma for talks about widening the relief effort. | |
| John Holmes will meet members of the junta and visit the Irrawaddy Delta. | |
| The UN's emergency relief co-ordinator was met at the airport by Burma's Deputy Foreign Minister Kyaw Thu. | |
| Mr Holmes is carrying a letter from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Burma's leader, Than Shwe, who has refused to answer Mr Ban's calls. | |
| Burma says some 78,000 people have died and 56,000 are missing since Cyclone Nargis hit. | Burma says some 78,000 people have died and 56,000 are missing since Cyclone Nargis hit. |
| Save the Children says 30,000 acutely malnourished children are threatened by death from starvation. | |
| Speaking to the BBC from Rangoon, Lord Malloch-Brown said that there had been "bottlenecks in the relief operation, many of them man-induced rather than natural," but that now aid was starting to be delivered. | Speaking to the BBC from Rangoon, Lord Malloch-Brown said that there had been "bottlenecks in the relief operation, many of them man-induced rather than natural," but that now aid was starting to be delivered. |
| He said that though the relief effort had not been what many Western nations considered sufficient, thanks to support from the governments of the region and the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) a compromise had been struck that the "Burmese can work with". | He said that though the relief effort had not been what many Western nations considered sufficient, thanks to support from the governments of the region and the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) a compromise had been struck that the "Burmese can work with". |
| He said that aid workers are insisting that the needs of the cyclone victims are not being met, and the Burmese junta has a much more optimistic view of the situation on the ground. | He said that aid workers are insisting that the needs of the cyclone victims are not being met, and the Burmese junta has a much more optimistic view of the situation on the ground. |
| Therefore, Lord Malloch-Brown says, the vital thing now is for a comprehensive assessment of exactly what is help is needed. | Therefore, Lord Malloch-Brown says, the vital thing now is for a comprehensive assessment of exactly what is help is needed. |
| Running out of time | Running out of time |
| His visit comes as Save the Children UK's chief executive, Jasmine Whitbread, expressed concern that children in the worst-affected areas were suffering from "acute malnourishment" - the most serious level of hunger. | His visit comes as Save the Children UK's chief executive, Jasmine Whitbread, expressed concern that children in the worst-affected areas were suffering from "acute malnourishment" - the most serious level of hunger. |
| The charity said 30,000 under-fives in the Irrawaddy Delta were malnourished before Cyclone Nargis hit on 2 May and that that if they do not receive energy-rich food now they could starve to death within weeks. | The charity said 30,000 under-fives in the Irrawaddy Delta were malnourished before Cyclone Nargis hit on 2 May and that that if they do not receive energy-rich food now they could starve to death within weeks. |
| The cyclone has filled rice fields with sea water, destroying vital crops UK aid 'reaching cyclone victims'Burma: How you can helpWaiting to deliver aid | The cyclone has filled rice fields with sea water, destroying vital crops UK aid 'reaching cyclone victims'Burma: How you can helpWaiting to deliver aid |
| "When people reach this stage they can die in a matter of days," Ms Whitbread said. | "When people reach this stage they can die in a matter of days," Ms Whitbread said. |
| "Children may already be dying as a result of a lack of food. They urgently need nutrient and energy-rich food, and food containing all the elements of a balanced diet. | "Children may already be dying as a result of a lack of food. They urgently need nutrient and energy-rich food, and food containing all the elements of a balanced diet. |
| "We need to reach more before it is too late." | "We need to reach more before it is too late." |
| Medical charity worker Jonathan Pearce, who returned from the Irrawaddy delta area on Saturday, says the situation is "desperate". | Medical charity worker Jonathan Pearce, who returned from the Irrawaddy delta area on Saturday, says the situation is "desperate". |
| "A lot of people are on the move, people are looking for shelter; people are looking for food," Mr Pearce, who works for the charity Merlin, said. | "A lot of people are on the move, people are looking for shelter; people are looking for food," Mr Pearce, who works for the charity Merlin, said. |
| "We're seeing people that are injured, body injuries from when the storm hit, these injuries have now become infected and those people need urgent treatment." | "We're seeing people that are injured, body injuries from when the storm hit, these injuries have now become infected and those people need urgent treatment." |
| A team of 50 Indian medical personnel has been given permission to fly into Burma, equipped with medical supplies. | A team of 50 Indian medical personnel has been given permission to fly into Burma, equipped with medical supplies. |
| But Burma has been refusing most offers of international aid, sparking international outcry. | But Burma has been refusing most offers of international aid, sparking international outcry. |
| 'Show visit' | 'Show visit' |
| On Saturday, Burma took foreign diplomats on a helicopter tour of the Irrawaddy Delta. | On Saturday, Burma took foreign diplomats on a helicopter tour of the Irrawaddy Delta. |
| EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION See map and satellite imagesEyewitness: Barred from BurmaSend us your comments | EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION See map and satellite imagesEyewitness: Barred from BurmaSend us your comments |
| But Shari Villarosa, the top US diplomat in Burma, dismissed the visit as a "show". | But Shari Villarosa, the top US diplomat in Burma, dismissed the visit as a "show". |
| However, Bernard Delpuech, head of the European Commission Humanitarian Office in Rangoon, said the trip had at least shown "the magnitude of the devastation". | However, Bernard Delpuech, head of the European Commission Humanitarian Office in Rangoon, said the trip had at least shown "the magnitude of the devastation". |
| Are you in Burma? Do you live in or near the affected regions? Are you an aid worker in the country? Send us your comments using the form below. Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 | Are you in Burma? Do you live in or near the affected regions? Are you an aid worker in the country? Send us your comments using the form below. Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 |