Burma cyclone death toll 'could reach 1.5 million'
Monday, May 12, 2008
Oxfam has warned that 1.5 million people could die needlessly in Burma as
the first outbreaks of disease were reported in the wake of Cyclone Nargis,
and many of the worst-hit areas went an eighth day without aid.
International agencies called on the country's secretive military junta to
allow immediate access to those stranded without food, clean water and
medicines. Cholera, typhoid and malaria could take hold within days as lack
of food and shelter weakened the resistance of survivors. More than 100,000
people are believed to have died in the 130mph winds and storm surges that
hit the country last weekend.
"Supplies will run out unless more aid is allowed into the country," said
Christian Aid's Burma expert, Ray Hasan. "Partners are telling us that there
are outbreaks of disease already. There is no time to lose." The UN World
Food Programme said it had never seen such delays in dealing with a modern
humanitarian crisis and described the official response as "unprecedented".
The military authorities are continuing to delay giving visas to foreign aid
officials, and insist on taking control of such shipments as are permitted.
The UN World Food Programme said yesterday it was sending more supplies,
even though the first two plane loads had been impounded. Twenty-three
agencies were providing aid to people in the devastated areas, said
Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Co-ordination of
Humanitarian Affairs.
A UN flight with 33 tons of plastic sheets, sanitation items and mosquito
nets got clearance to take off from Brindisi, Italy, last night, but many
organisations were awaiting government clearance. "It's a race against the
clock," Ms Byrs said. "If the humanitarian aid does not get into the country
on a larger scale, there's the risk of a second catastrophe."
An estimated 300,000 people have received some help since last Saturday,
mainly from aid agencies already based in the country.
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