Desperation among Burma's 1.5 million cyclone survivors mounted today as another storm brewed in the area and the UN put the estimate of those affected at over two million.
The second storm was heading towards Burma’s devastated Irrawaddy delta region tonight.
The area was smashed by Cyclone Nargis on May 3rd, leaving at least 35,000 dead and 27,000 missing, according to official figures. The UN says the death toll could exceed 100,000. Rescuers have been able to reach only 270,000 people so far.
The United Nations estimated those affected by the Burma cyclone at up to 2.5 million and called an urgent meeting of big donors and Asian states as the junta continued to limit foreign aid.
According to the UN, so little aid has reached the two million survivors of the last deadly cyclone there could be a second wave of deaths from disease and starvation.
The US military’s Joint Typhoon Warning Centre said there was a good chance “a significant tropical cyclone” will form and head across the delta.
The news of a possible second cyclone was not broadcast by Burma’s state-controlled media, which was criticised for not issuing warnings about the May 3rd storm. Rangoon residents picked up the news on foreign broadcasts and on the internet.
The ruling military junta today told visiting Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej it was in control of the relief operations and did not need foreign experts.
Mr Samak said the junta gave him a “guarantee” that there was no starvation or disease outbreaks among survivors. “From what I have seen, I am impressed with their management,” he said.
The junta has granted approval for a Thai medical team to visit the delta. If it is allowed to go as scheduled on Friday, it will be the first foreign aid group to work in the ravaged region.
The government has separately announced it will allow 160 relief workers from neighbouring countries to enter Burma, but it is not clear if they include the Thai medics or whether they can travel to the delta. Police have barred foreign aid workers from the worst-hit areas.
Bottlenecks, poor logistics, limited infrastructure and the military government’s refusal to allow foreign aid workers have left most survivors living in miserable conditions without food or clean water.
The military, which has ruled since 1962, has taken control of most supplies sent by other countries.
PA