Overseas food aid arrives in cyclone-hit Burma
Thursday, 08 May 2008 20:06
Burma is facing increased pressure over its reluctance to accept foreign aid
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The first flights carrying foreign food aid have landed in Burma, days after Cyclone Nargis left tens of thousands of people dead.
The United Nations said two emergency flights carrying relief supplies had landed in Rangoon with two others due to arrive before the end of the week.
Burma's leaders had previously come under pressure over their reluctance to accept foreign aid, with aid planes grounded as they awaited permission to land.
The south-east
Asian country's military rulers have declared more than 22,000 people were killed when the cyclone hit the low-lying delta region of the country during the weekend.
US officials however have claimed that the death toll could in fact be as high as 100,000.
The international aid response is being thwarted somewhat by Burma's reluctance to fully embrace foreign help.
Visas for relief workers for example are taking longer than expected.
"It's not been as good as we would have liked. It's not been as good as it has been in other circumstances," John Holmes, the top United Nations humanitarian official, said.
The Foreign Office has confirmed that 17 Britons have failed to make contact since the cyclone hit.
The country is due to hold a referendum on a new constitution this weekend, a move widely criticised by the international community.