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| Aid effort for cyclone-hit Burma | Aid effort for cyclone-hit Burma |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Some aid is beginning to reach victims of the cyclone that hit Burma on Saturday, killing hundreds of people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. | Some aid is beginning to reach victims of the cyclone that hit Burma on Saturday, killing hundreds of people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. |
| Both Burmese officials and international agencies are working to assess the scale of the disaster, with five regions declared disaster zones. | Both Burmese officials and international agencies are working to assess the scale of the disaster, with five regions declared disaster zones. |
| More than 350 people were killed and thousands of buildings destroyed by the storm, state media said. | More than 350 people were killed and thousands of buildings destroyed by the storm, state media said. |
| But a referendum on a new constitution will still go ahead on 10 May, it said. | But a referendum on a new constitution will still go ahead on 10 May, it said. |
| "The referendum is only a few days away and the people are eagerly looking forward to voting," the government said in a statement carried by state media. | "The referendum is only a few days away and the people are eagerly looking forward to voting," the government said in a statement carried by state media. |
| Burma's leaders say the referendum will pave the way for multi-party elections in 2010, but critics say the charter is aimed primarily at further entrenching military rule. | Burma's leaders say the referendum will pave the way for multi-party elections in 2010, but critics say the charter is aimed primarily at further entrenching military rule. |
| 'Not accessible' | 'Not accessible' |
| UN and international aid agencies are meeting today in the Thai capital, Bangkok, to co-ordinate their response to the disaster. | UN and international aid agencies are meeting today in the Thai capital, Bangkok, to co-ordinate their response to the disaster. |
| The military regime is ill-prepared to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone Naing Aung, Forum for Democracy in Burma | The military regime is ill-prepared to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone Naing Aung, Forum for Democracy in Burma |
| But Terje Skavdal, regional head of the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said that understanding the scale of the damage would take time. | But Terje Skavdal, regional head of the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said that understanding the scale of the damage would take time. |
| "The government is having as much trouble as anyone else in getting a full overview," he told Reuters news agency. | "The government is having as much trouble as anyone else in getting a full overview," he told Reuters news agency. |
| "Roads are not accessible and many small villages were hit and will take time to reach." | "Roads are not accessible and many small villages were hit and will take time to reach." |
| Movements of foreign aid workers are restricted in military-ruled Burma, so most agencies use teams of local staff. | Movements of foreign aid workers are restricted in military-ruled Burma, so most agencies use teams of local staff. |
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| Aerial footage of the damage | |
| Mr Skavdal said the UN would "have a dialogue with the government to try to get access to the people affected." | Mr Skavdal said the UN would "have a dialogue with the government to try to get access to the people affected." |
| The Red Cross, meanwhile, said teams were distributing emergency supplies including water and blankets in the worst-hit Irrawaddy region. | The Red Cross, meanwhile, said teams were distributing emergency supplies including water and blankets in the worst-hit Irrawaddy region. |
| "We went out as soon as possible but there were problems with mobility due to a lot of debris and power lines down," spokesman Michael Annear told the French news agency AFP. | "We went out as soon as possible but there were problems with mobility due to a lot of debris and power lines down," spokesman Michael Annear told the French news agency AFP. |
| "Authorities and the local community have been clearing the road networks so mobility has increased today." | "Authorities and the local community have been clearing the road networks so mobility has increased today." |
| Naing Aung, secretary general of the Thailand-based Forum for Democracy in Burma, said international help was urgently required. | Naing Aung, secretary general of the Thailand-based Forum for Democracy in Burma, said international help was urgently required. |
| "The military regime is ill-prepared to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone," he said. | "The military regime is ill-prepared to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone," he said. |
| 'Villages flattened' | 'Villages flattened' |
| Tropical Cyclone Nargis hit the country two days ago with winds of speeds reaching 190km/h (120 mph). | Tropical Cyclone Nargis hit the country two days ago with winds of speeds reaching 190km/h (120 mph). |
| In pictures: Burma cyclone | |
| In Rangoon, roofs were blown off buildings and electricity supplies cut. | In Rangoon, roofs were blown off buildings and electricity supplies cut. |
| Shari Villarosa, the leading US diplomat in the city, said the storm had caused devastation. | Shari Villarosa, the leading US diplomat in the city, said the storm had caused devastation. |
| "The Burmese are saying they have never seen anything like this, ever," she told the Associated Press news agency. | "The Burmese are saying they have never seen anything like this, ever," she told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Rescue workers have yet to reach some of the worst-hit areas of the country, including the low-lying Irrawaddy delta region, which was also hit by a storm surge. | Rescue workers have yet to reach some of the worst-hit areas of the country, including the low-lying Irrawaddy delta region, which was also hit by a storm surge. |
| "The villages there have reportedly been completely flattened," said Chris Kaye, the UN's acting humanitarian co-ordinator in Rangoon. | "The villages there have reportedly been completely flattened," said Chris Kaye, the UN's acting humanitarian co-ordinator in Rangoon. |
| State-run television reported that at least 162 people had been killed on Haing-Gyi island, off the country's south-west coast. About 20,000 homes have been destroyed on the island, and 90,000 people made homeless. | State-run television reported that at least 162 people had been killed on Haing-Gyi island, off the country's south-west coast. About 20,000 homes have been destroyed on the island, and 90,000 people made homeless. |
| Burma, one of the poorest nations in Asia, has already been hard-hit by rising fuel and food prices. | Burma, one of the poorest nations in Asia, has already been hard-hit by rising fuel and food prices. |
| It has been under military rule since 1962, and the government stifles most dissenting voices. | It has been under military rule since 1962, and the government stifles most dissenting voices. |
| Last September, at least 31 people were killed and thousands more were detained when the military suppressed anti-government protests led by Buddhist monks. | Last September, at least 31 people were killed and thousands more were detained when the military suppressed anti-government protests led by Buddhist monks. |
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| 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. |