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UN frustrated at Burma response | UN frustrated at Burma response |
(about 1 hour 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. | 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. |
A BBC reporter in Burma says that while major cities are being cleaned up, many areas along Burma's coast are still untouched by the rescue effort. | A BBC reporter in Burma says that while major cities are being cleaned up, many areas along Burma's coast are still untouched by the rescue effort. |
Unless those people get help soon, they will die, and many could be dead already, our reporter says. | Unless those people get help soon, they will die, and many could be dead already, our reporter says. |
'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." |
An aid worker's account of conditions in Burma's Delta region | An aid worker's account of conditions in Burma's Delta region |
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 | Dire conditions |
In the Irrawaddy delta, the area worst affected by the cyclone, people have been left without shelter, crops, and stored rice. | In the Irrawaddy delta, the area worst affected by the cyclone, people have been left without shelter, crops, and stored rice. |
With little access to food or clean drinking water, they face cholera, fever and other illnesses. | With little access to food or clean drinking water, they face cholera, fever and other illnesses. |
One aid worker for Operation Blessing told the BBC that the handful of aid organisations already on the ground had been able to distribute aid normally. | One aid worker for Operation Blessing told the BBC that the handful of aid organisations already on the ground had been able to distribute aid normally. |
But he described the aid that was reaching people as only a tiny part of what was needed. | But he described the aid that was reaching people as only a tiny part of what was needed. |
Aid agencies have warned of serious logistical hurdles in getting supplies to affected areas. | Aid agencies have warned of serious logistical hurdles in getting supplies to affected areas. |
Roads and bridges have been washed away, and heavy rain that fell on Monday is expected to further complicate relief efforts. | |
Mr Ban said the UN had been able to reach some 270,000 people, providing only "the most rudimentary assistance". | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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: | 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 | 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. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |