78,000 killed' in Burma cyclone

Description: The official death toll for Burma's cyclone disaster jumps to nearly 78,000 with 56,000 missing, state TV says .the Red Cross and United Nations had estimated a death toll above 100,000 .The cyclone knocked out electricity and telephone services on saturday 3 may 2008.The cyclone has filled rice fields with sea water, destroying vital crops .
The British Red Cross has just donated £30,000 from the Disaster Fund to help support the victims of the cyclone in Burma this weekend.Thailand has already flown in some aid, India is sending two naval ships, and Bangladesh has said it will fly food and water purification tablets to Rangoon on Wednesday. Many countries have promised humanitarian assistance to Burma .Aid stocks are ready to go, but much has not yet been allowed entry .The foreign ministry said Burma was happy to accept aid, but insisted it would control the distribution itself.Aid from a number of Asian countries has been arriving in Burma.AID PLEDGES ,UK $10m ,UN $10m ,Japan $10m ,US $3m ,France $3m ,Australia $2.8m ,. Tearfund say its relief teams have got food, water, shelter and medical supplies to 23,000 people. Christian Aid is aiming to reach 100,000 with blankets, medicines and water purification equipment. Concern is distributing 75 tonnes of rice, as well as pulses, cooking oil, salt, sugar and tarpaulins to 6,000 survivors in the coming days. However, there are many more people in need of assistance. The UN says that so far aid has only reached 270,000 of the estimated 1.5 million survivors.1,000 shelter boxes will be on the flight from East Midlands airport .
Mr Brown said Burma's ruling generals would be judged by the world and their own people for thwarting the assistance offered by the rest of the world .Aid agencies are warning supplies are not getting to the areas worst hit .A team of 50 Indian medical personnel is also being allowed to fly into Rangoon on Saturday, equipped with medical supplies.A senior UN envoy has arrived in Burma to urge the military regime to accept more international aid. UN chief Ban Ki-moon is expected to visit soon.Save the Children says 30,000 acutely malnourished children are threatened by death from starvation.Aid agencies say a huge operation is needed to help cyclone survivors.Eighteen days after the storm struck, flags were lowered to half-mast to mark the tens of thousands of people killed. Burma's top leader has agreed to let all foreign aid workers into the country for relief work in cyclone-hit areas. 2.5 million people have been affected by the cyclone.clip made by kumud pant

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