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Aid donors turn up heat on Burma Aid donors turn up heat on Burma
(about 3 hours later)
International aid donors meeting in Rangoon are renewing pressure on Burma to grant unhindered access to the areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis. International aid donors who have been meeting in Rangoon have put pressure on Burma to grant unhindered access to the areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis.
A top US official, Scot Marciel, said further US aid depended on Burma giving disaster experts access to the affected areas, where at least 78,000 have died.A top US official, Scot Marciel, said further US aid depended on Burma giving disaster experts access to the affected areas, where at least 78,000 have died.
This was "established practice readily accepted by other nations" responding to natural disasters, he added.This was "established practice readily accepted by other nations" responding to natural disasters, he added.
Burma's military government wants some $11bn (£5.5bn) to fund relief work. Burma's military government wanted some $11bn (£5.5bn) to fund relief work.
The BBC's Laura Trevelyan, in Rangoon, says the conference has ended and officials are currently adding up how much money has been pledged.
American, French and British military ships full of aid are waiting just outside Burma's waters.American, French and British military ships full of aid are waiting just outside Burma's waters.
But, diplomats say, the Burmese government is concerned that these ships could somehow be used to launch an invasion.But, diplomats say, the Burmese government is concerned that these ships could somehow be used to launch an invasion.
Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein said Rangoon would accept supplies from foreign warships off its coast, but only if they came in on civilian boats. Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein said on Sunday Rangoon would accept supplies from foreign warships off its coast, but only if they came in on civilian boats.
'Saving lives''Saving lives'
Opening the aid conference, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon said he was encouraged that dozens of countries were represented. United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon said he was encouraged that dozens of countries were represented at the conference.
Click here for a map of the deltaReporter's diaryWill Burma keep its word on aid?Burmese anger at juntaSend us your commentsClick here for a map of the deltaReporter's diaryWill Burma keep its word on aid?Burmese anger at juntaSend us your comments
He said Burma had begun honouring an agreement struck on Friday to allow in foreign aid workers.He said Burma had begun honouring an agreement struck on Friday to allow in foreign aid workers.
But Mr Ban rejected Burma's insistence that relief work was already over.But Mr Ban rejected Burma's insistence that relief work was already over.
"I ask all of us to keep our eye firmly on the immediate objective - saving lives," he said."I ask all of us to keep our eye firmly on the immediate objective - saving lives," he said.
"I expect the relief effort will run for several months, probably six months at least, as we feed and care for those who have lost everything.""I expect the relief effort will run for several months, probably six months at least, as we feed and care for those who have lost everything."
Three weeks on, many of the 2.4 million people affected by the cyclone have not received help. More than 50,000 people are still missing, in addition to those confirmed dead.Three weeks on, many of the 2.4 million people affected by the cyclone have not received help. More than 50,000 people are still missing, in addition to those confirmed dead.
The BBC's Laura Trevelyan, in Rangoon, says the donor governments do not want to give aid funds until their experts have been able to go in and assess the damage for themselves. Our correspondent says the donor governments have been reluctant to give aid funds until their experts have been able to go in and assess the damage for themselves.
Invasion fearInvasion fear
Forty-four countries have signed up to attend the conference, which has been jointly organised by the UN and the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). Forty-four countries signed up to attend the conference, jointly organised by the UN and the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean).
The real test of the promises from the regime will come in the days ahead when the suffering people of the Irrawaddy Delta need action and not simply words from their government Douglas AlexanderUK International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander calls for action at the UN aid conference
While Burma will not get the $11bn it seeks pledged today, the talks mark the beginning of a process, our correspondent says. While Burma will not get the $11bn it seeks pledged, the talks mark the beginning of a process, our correspondent says.
Mr Marciel, from the US State Department, said his country was ready to pledge millions more in aid, but that it was conditional on the Burmese allowing "international disaster assistance experts to conduct thorough assessments of the situation in the affected areas".Mr Marciel, from the US State Department, said his country was ready to pledge millions more in aid, but that it was conditional on the Burmese allowing "international disaster assistance experts to conduct thorough assessments of the situation in the affected areas".
"These requests are not unusual, but rather established practice readily accepted by other nations around the world when they are confronted with a natural disaster of this magnitude," he added."These requests are not unusual, but rather established practice readily accepted by other nations around the world when they are confronted with a natural disaster of this magnitude," he added.
Britain's International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander, said his government would be taking a tough line. Britain's International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander, also took a tough line.
"The real test of the promises from the regime will come in the days ahead when the suffering people of the Irrawaddy Delta need action and not simply words from their government," he said."The real test of the promises from the regime will come in the days ahead when the suffering people of the Irrawaddy Delta need action and not simply words from their government," he said.
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Burmese monks on a secret trip to hand out aid
On Saturday, Mr Ban opened a new logistics hub at Bangkok airport, in Thailand, to help speed up the delivery of outside aid to victims of the cyclone.On Saturday, Mr Ban opened a new logistics hub at Bangkok airport, in Thailand, to help speed up the delivery of outside aid to victims of the cyclone.
The BBC's Chris Hogg in Bangkok says some aid has already accumulated in a cavernous warehouse in the city's old airport, which will be sorted so that the most urgent shipments can be prepared for loading. The UN has chartered three cargo planes to carry it into Burma.The BBC's Chris Hogg in Bangkok says some aid has already accumulated in a cavernous warehouse in the city's old airport, which will be sorted so that the most urgent shipments can be prepared for loading. The UN has chartered three cargo planes to carry it into Burma.
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.
But on Saturday Burmese state television ran a special programme celebrating the government's response to the disaster.But on Saturday Burmese state television ran a special programme celebrating the government's response to the disaster.
Meanwhile, the authorities decided to go ahead with polling for a controversial constitutional referendum, which had been postponed in those areas affected by the cyclone.Meanwhile, the authorities decided to go ahead with polling for a controversial constitutional referendum, which had been postponed in those areas affected by the cyclone.
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