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UK pledges £5m in aid for Burma UK pledges £5m in aid for Burma
(about 3 hours later)
Britain has promised £5m to Burma to help the survivors of a cyclone that struck on Saturday leaving more than 22,000 dead and many more missing.Britain has promised £5m to Burma to help the survivors of a cyclone that struck on Saturday leaving more than 22,000 dead and many more missing.
International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander told BBC News it was the right response for "an extremely serious humanitarian situation".International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander told BBC News it was the right response for "an extremely serious humanitarian situation".
International aid agencies are pushing to gain access to the area for a massive relief operation.International aid agencies are pushing to gain access to the area for a massive relief operation.
Some UK charities have already begun distributing aid packages.Some UK charities have already begun distributing aid packages.
Save the Children aims to provide 20,000 families with food supplies, water purification kits, plastic sheeting, kitchen equipment and rehydration salts. Save the Children aims to provide 30,000 families with food supplies, water purification kits, plastic sheeting, kitchen equipment and rehydration salts.
'Largest single effort''Largest single effort'
Christian Aid launched a public appeal to raise £2m in donations, and has already sent £50,000 to its four partners carrying out relief work in the country. Christian Aid has sent £50,000 to its partners carrying out relief work in the country and the British Red Cross has released £30,000 from its disaster fund to pay for supplies in the region.
Both have also launched appeals for the public to donate money.
Oxfam committed up to £250,000 in aid and has put a team on standby.
HAVE YOUR SAYRight now the international community has to bend over backwards to alleviate the suffering of the Burmese people Pancha, BrusselsSend us your comments
Meanwhile, Cornwall-based charity Shelterbox is sending 200 tents to provide shelter for 2,000 people, with another 600 expected to be sent over in the next few days.Meanwhile, Cornwall-based charity Shelterbox is sending 200 tents to provide shelter for 2,000 people, with another 600 expected to be sent over in the next few days.
I believe nearly a million people are now in need of food aid Gordon Brown, UK prime minister Mr Alexander told BBC News Britain's contribution was "the largest single effort of any member state of the United Nations so far".
Mr Alexander told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme that Britain's contribution was "the largest single effort of any member state of the United Nations so far".
He also called for the Burmese government to allow the international community access to carry out assessments and provide much-needed relief.He also called for the Burmese government to allow the international community access to carry out assessments and provide much-needed relief.
Speaking earlier at a conference in London, the prime minister offered sympathy on behalf of the British people to all those suffering as a result of the cyclone. Speaking earlier at a conference in London, the prime minister offered sympathy on behalf of the British people to those suffering in Burma.
Gordon Brown said: "I believe nearly a million people are now in need of food aid, and we will have to help the families of those where people have died.Gordon Brown said: "I believe nearly a million people are now in need of food aid, and we will have to help the families of those where people have died.
"I want to pledge on behalf of the British government that we will work with the whole international community to make sure that the food aid and the other support that is necessary is available to the people of Burma.""I want to pledge on behalf of the British government that we will work with the whole international community to make sure that the food aid and the other support that is necessary is available to the people of Burma."
'Stretched to the limit''Stretched to the limit'
Save the Children has had a presence in the military-ruled country for 13 years, making it easier for it to mobilise support than other charities. Save the Children, which has had a presence in the military-ruled country for 13 years, says there are difficulties distributing aid.
A spokeswoman for the charity said those who lost their homes in the disaster were gathering in schools, monasteries, churches and mosques and there were concerns over soaring food and fuel prices. Amanda Weisbaum, head of emergency response, said: "Public transport prices have risen 1,000%. Fuel and all transport are hard to source and, with a few exceptions, electricity and landline communications have also been cut.
They're seeing scrambles over people trying to access water, nails, even candles Dan Collinson, programme manager for Save the Children "Trucks and boats and other logistical support are also needed to help distribute the materials.
Dan Collinson, programme manager for Save the Children in South East Asia, said his relief teams had already reported that resources were stretched to the limit. "Families are using flood water and water from lakes. Food is available but the cost has gone up by 50%," she added.
"People living in shelters, over 1,000 people per shelter, these are sheltering in pagodas and schools and churches, they're seeing scrambles over people trying to access water, nails, even candles are just disappearing off the market very, very quickly." Communications are down in the cyclone-hit areas, roads have been washed away and getting aid to people will be very difficult Sarah Ireland, Oxfam's East Asia regional director
Shelterbox said 200 boxes which include a 10-man tent, blankets and water carriers were on their way to the country. Dan Collinson, programme manager for Save the Children in South East Asia, said in some cases there were more than 1,000 people per shelter and people were fighting over access to water, nails and candles.
Tom Henderson, the charity's chief executive, said a team of four workers were flying out on Tuesday to distribute the packages and he was confident they would be allowed access. Shelterbox said 200 boxes, each including a 10-man tent, blankets and water carriers were on their way to the country.
Tom Henderson, the charity's chief executive, said a team of four workers was flying out on Tuesday to distribute the packages and he was confident they would be allowed access.
"We have operated in North Korea and Lebanon and are well used to working hard to get this done," he said."We have operated in North Korea and Lebanon and are well used to working hard to get this done," he said.
Quick response
Christian Aid's four local partners say shelter, food, and clean water are urgently needed.Christian Aid's four local partners say shelter, food, and clean water are urgently needed.
The charity's Asia specialist, Anjali Kwatra, said it had been difficult to get information from the ground.The charity's Asia specialist, Anjali Kwatra, said it had been difficult to get information from the ground.
But one handwritten letter taken into Thailand revealed salt water had been contaminating fresh water wells and a lot of military were on the streets of Rangoon trying to organise relief work, she said.But one handwritten letter taken into Thailand revealed salt water had been contaminating fresh water wells and a lot of military were on the streets of Rangoon trying to organise relief work, she said.
Oxfam said it was currently assessing the situation. Sarah Ireland, Oxfam's East Asia regional director, said: "The aid effort faces huge challenges.
"Some 24 million live in the areas affected by the storm. Communications are down in the cyclone-hit areas, roads have been washed away and getting aid to people will be very difficult.
"The international community needs to be quick both to respond to this crisis and to ensure the needs of those most affected are met."