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| Cautious response to Burma pledge | Cautious response to Burma pledge |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Aid agencies have given a cautious welcome to the announcement that Burma's leaders will allow all foreign relief workers into cyclone-hit areas. | Aid agencies have given a cautious welcome to the announcement that Burma's leaders will allow all foreign relief workers into cyclone-hit areas. |
| The UN's World Food Programme said the real test was whether its workers would be allowed to leave Rangoon for the devastated southern Irrawaddy Delta. | The UN's World Food Programme said the real test was whether its workers would be allowed to leave Rangoon for the devastated southern Irrawaddy Delta. |
| About 78,000 people died and 56,000 are missing after the 2 May cyclone. | About 78,000 people died and 56,000 are missing after the 2 May cyclone. |
| Meanwhile, the polls have opened in the final stage of a controversial referendum on a new constitution. | Meanwhile, the polls have opened in the final stage of a controversial referendum on a new constitution. |
| The vote is taking place in Rangoon and parts of the Irrawaddy delta, where only a few million people will be casting their ballots. | The vote is taking place in Rangoon and parts of the Irrawaddy delta, where only a few million people will be casting their ballots. |
| Analysts say this is not nearly enough to overturn a massive majority in favour of the new constitution, which the Burmese leadership claimed during the main stage of the vote earlier this month. | Analysts say this is not nearly enough to overturn a massive majority in favour of the new constitution, which the Burmese leadership claimed during the main stage of the vote earlier this month. |
| 'World is watching' | 'World is watching' |
| Thousands of aid workers are needed for the relief effort in Burma in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, and the massive reconstruction that must follow. | Thousands of aid workers are needed for the relief effort in Burma in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, and the massive reconstruction that must follow. |
| For weeks, Burma's government - suspicious of foreigners and fearful of any development which could challenge its monopoly on power - has blocked foreign aid workers. | For weeks, Burma's government - suspicious of foreigners and fearful of any development which could challenge its monopoly on power - has blocked foreign aid workers. |
| Click here for a map of the deltaReporter's diarySend us your commentsWill Burma keep its word on aid?Burmese anger at junta | Click here for a map of the deltaReporter's diarySend us your commentsWill Burma keep its word on aid?Burmese anger at junta |
| The change in the Burmese generals' hardline position on access came after a meeting on Friday between UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Burma's senior general, Than Shwe. | The change in the Burmese generals' hardline position on access came after a meeting on Friday between UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Burma's senior general, Than Shwe. |
| After talks in Burma's remote capital, Nay Pyi Daw, Mr Ban said Burma would now allow the delivery of aid "via civilian ships and small boats". | After talks in Burma's remote capital, Nay Pyi Daw, Mr Ban said Burma would now allow the delivery of aid "via civilian ships and small boats". |
| But his wording suggested that the US, British and French warships waiting off the coast with supplies may not be able to dock. | But his wording suggested that the US, British and French warships waiting off the coast with supplies may not be able to dock. |
| Correspondents say Burma has a record of withdrawing promises made to the UN, and aid agencies are waiting to hear how these new arrangements will work in practice. | Correspondents say Burma has a record of withdrawing promises made to the UN, and aid agencies are waiting to hear how these new arrangements will work in practice. |
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| Burmese monks on a secret trip to hand out aid | |
| The UN's World Food Programme says it has now been allowed to bring in 10 helicopters to ferry supplies to the disaster zone. | The UN's World Food Programme says it has now been allowed to bring in 10 helicopters to ferry supplies to the disaster zone. |
| The international organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres says it now has some foreign staff working in four areas of the Irrawaddy Delta. | |
| There is also a Thai medical team working there too. | |
| Mr Ban stressed that "implementation will be the key", and warned that what happened next would be closely watched. | Mr Ban stressed that "implementation will be the key", and warned that what happened next would be closely watched. |
| Western governments have backed Mr Ban's visit, calling for pressure on Burma's leadership to do more to help the cyclone victims. | Western governments have backed Mr Ban's visit, calling for pressure on Burma's leadership to do more to help the cyclone victims. |
| The UN estimates that only a quarter of the 2.5 million Burmese affected by the cyclone have received the help they need. | The UN estimates that only a quarter of the 2.5 million Burmese affected by the cyclone have received the help they need. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Ban has arrived in China, to observe relief efforts after a massive earthquake struck Sichuan province on 12 May, killing more than 55,000 people. | Meanwhile, Mr Ban has arrived in China, to observe relief efforts after a massive earthquake struck Sichuan province on 12 May, killing more than 55,000 people. |
| Mr Ban is in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, from where he is expected to travel to a town close to the quake's epicentre later on Saturday. | Mr Ban is in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, from where he is expected to travel to a town close to the quake's epicentre later on Saturday. |
| Are you in Burma? Have you been affected by the cyclone? Are you involved in the relief effort? Tell us about your experience using the form below: | Are you in Burma? Have you been affected by the cyclone? Are you involved in the relief effort? Tell us about your experience using the form below: |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If 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. |