This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7397012.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UN frustrated at Burma response | UN frustrated at Burma response |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his "immense frustration" at Burma's slow response to the cyclone that hit the country nine days ago. | |
| Mr Ban said aid had been able to reach less than a third of all those at risk. | |
| He said he had still not been able to speak to the leader of Burma's military government, General Than Shwe. | |
| The official toll for the cyclone has risen to almost 32,000, although foreign aid workers say the real number of dead may be much higher. | The official toll for the cyclone has risen to almost 32,000, although foreign aid workers say the real number of dead may be much higher. |
| 'Critical point' | 'Critical point' |
| Mr Ban said on Monday that the reaction of the regime of Burma - also known as Myanmar - to the cyclone had been "unacceptably slow". | Mr Ban said on Monday that the reaction of the regime of Burma - also known as Myanmar - to the cyclone had been "unacceptably slow". |
| "We are at a critical point. Unless more aid gets into the country very quickly, we face an outbreak of infectious diseases that could dwarf today's current crisis," Mr Ban said. | "We are at a critical point. Unless more aid gets into the country very quickly, we face an outbreak of infectious diseases that could dwarf today's current crisis," Mr Ban said. |
| "I therefore call in the most strenuous terms on the government of Myanmar to put its people's lives first." | "I therefore call in the most strenuous terms on the government of Myanmar to put its people's lives first." |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged Burma's leaders to co-operate in aid efforts | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged Burma's leaders to co-operate in aid efforts |
| Earlier on Monday the first US aid flight was allowed to land in Rangoon, after days of negotiation. | Earlier on Monday the first US aid flight was allowed to land in Rangoon, after days of negotiation. |
| The US said it had permission to send in two further flights, and was offering an extra $13m in aid for Burma. | The US said it had permission to send in two further flights, and was offering an extra $13m in aid for Burma. |
| The plane was carrying 12,700kg of supplies including mosquito nets, blankets and water. | The plane was carrying 12,700kg of supplies including mosquito nets, blankets and water. |
| In addition, aircraft from medical relief agencies Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and Medecins du Monde (MDM) arrived, loaded with a total of 56 tonnes of aid. | In addition, aircraft from medical relief agencies Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and Medecins du Monde (MDM) arrived, loaded with a total of 56 tonnes of aid. |
| UN humanitarian head John Holmes said there had been "some slight improvement again in the last few days, particularly in the last 24 hours." | UN humanitarian head John Holmes said there had been "some slight improvement again in the last few days, particularly in the last 24 hours." |
| Thirty-four visas for UN staff were being granted or expected to be granted, he said. | Thirty-four visas for UN staff were being granted or expected to be granted, he said. |
| But he added that this was "clearly nothing like enough for the scale of the problem we're trying to deal with". | But he added that this was "clearly nothing like enough for the scale of the problem we're trying to deal with". |
| Dire conditions | |
| In the Irrawaddy delta, the area worst affected by the cyclone, people were reported to be crammed into monasteries and makeshift shelters. | |
| With little access to food or clean drinking water, they faced cholera, fever and other illnesses. | |
| Aid agencies have warned of serious logistical hurdles in getting supplies to affected areas. | |
| Roads and bridges have been washed away, and heavy rain is forecast for the coming week, further complicating relief efforts. | |
| Mr Ban said the UN had been able to reach some 270,000 people, providing only "the most rudimentary assistance". | |
| He said that food aid provided so far might amount to less than a 10th of what was needed and that rice stocks were "close to exhaustion". | |
| The EU is to hold an emergency meeting on getting aid to Burma on Tuesday. | |
| Are you in Burma, or do you have friends and family there? Have you - or they - been affected by the cyclone? Send your comments and pictures using the post form below. | |
| You can also send your comments via text to +44 7624 800 100: | |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | |