'Outrage' at Burma aid delays

Updated 22.43 Thu May 08 2008

Keywords: cyclone nargis, burma

Diplomats have spoken of their "outrage" as Burma's military rulers delay efforts to get aid to an estimated 1.5 million storm.

The first United Nations aid plane landed in the country on Thursday, six days after Cyclone Nargis tore through the Irrawaddy delta, killing up to 100,000 people.

Over 40,000 people are still missing and one million have been left homeless with around 95 per cent of buildings in the Irrawaddy delta area, where a quarter of the country's population live, destroyed

The UN plane touched down carrying high-energy biscuits, medicine and other supplies following intense pressure from the international community on its ruling junta. Three more UN flights are expected later.

The UN's humanitarian affairs chief John Holmes said 1.5 million people in total have been "severely affected" by the disaster.

Over 40,000 people are still missing and one million have been left homeless with around 95 per cent of buildings left in ruins in the delta, where a quarter of the country's population live.

Entire villages are submerged and those who survived face the daily challenge of finding clean water, food and adequate shelter.

The Foreign Office said 17 Britons have failed to make contact with UK relatives, but said communications problems are most likely to be the cause.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging Burma's ruling military junta to stop dragging its feet and allow more foreign aid workers visas, as charities and agencies express continued frustration at delays.

US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said: "We're outraged by the slowness of the response of the government of Burma to welcome and accept assistance.

"It's clear that the government's ability to deal with the situation, which is catastrophic, is limited."

A group of British aid agencies and charities has launched an "urgent" appeal for help and a TV advert asking for donations will be broadcast. The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) said the scale of the disaster meant the need for aid was "immediate and vast".

The committee, whose members include British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Oxfam and Save the Children, said the money would be spent on both immediate relief and long-term reconstruction.