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Burma death toll rises to 78,000

16/05/2008

The official death toll in Burma as a result of Cyclone Nargis has risen to almost 78,000, state TV has reported.

There are also 56,000 people now believed to be missing.

Earlier today, it was announced that international aid is still failing to reach many people affected by the devastating cyclone.

The United Nation's (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) has said that around 160,000 people have now received food aid since the storm hit, but with reports claiming as many as 2.5 million people have been affected there are many still going without.

The Red Cross and UN have both claimed that the death toll could continue rise to over 100,000.

Yesterday, the WFP announced that since the cyclone struck nearly two weeks ago 1,200 tons of rice, high-energy biscuits and beans have been dispatched to the country's low-lying regions that were worst hit.

Three aid flights organised by the WFP carrying water, medical supplies and food were due to land in Yangon yesterday with further flights expected in the coming days.

A statement from the WFP though claimed that persistent rainy conditions were hampering the off-loading of planes and road access to some areas was "extremely tricky".

There are further complications in that there is no refuelling capacity at Yangon airport, making proposals for an "air bridge" from Bangkok even more important.

Aid being delivered by boat is another measure being used by the aid agencies, however reports claim 90 per cent of boats in the affected area of Burma have been destroyed.

Burma's military leadership has come under considerable international criticism for its failure to fully embrace the international aid being offered to the millions of people suffering in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.