"We are at a critical point. Unless more aid gets into the country very quickly, we face an outbreak of infectious diseases that could dwarf today's current crisis," Mr Ban said. "I therefore call in the most strenuous terms on the government of Myanmar (Burma) to put its people's lives first." US President Bush also expressed concern over the tardiness of the relief effort. The EU is to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis in Burma later today.

From: Mizzima Online
Burmese journals face restrictions on cyclone coverage

Burmese authorities have placed restrictions on reporters who are covering the cyclone aftermath. Although Burmese journalists have more freedom of movement than foreign journalists, they are not allowed to show images of the dead and are forbidden from writing that the survivors are not getting enough aid. Journalists also report being closely monitored by authorities when conducting interviews with survivors. Burmese people are also starting to associate press restrictions with the idea that the generals had prior warning that this disaster was on its way, but did nothing to alert the population through the media outlets.

From: Al Jazeera Online- Asia Pacific News
US airlifts cyclone aid to Myanmar

The US flew in its first relief supplies to Burma yesterday on a C-130 transport aircraft. The plane flew in from a base in Thailand to Yangon after four days of negotiations between the US and the Burmese authorities. Two more air shipments are due to arrive today.

Meanwhile concerns are growing over the looming threat of preventable diseases in the aftermath of the natural disaster. Time is now running out to get medical supplies to those in remote areas. The issue of access is likely to be high on the agenda when high level talks between the US and China begin. China is a major trading partner to Burma and will be urged to pressure the regime into allowing greater aid flows.

From: CNN
Bloated corpses pile up

Correspondents report that although some aid seems to be getting to the bigger cities, rural areas remain isolated from aid operations. Aid agencies like Oxfam fear that the lack of clean drinking water may end up affecting up to one and a half million survivors. With little aid arriving in remote areas, survivors are drinking whatever water is available to them. They run the risk of contracting water-borne diseases especially with the corpses of victims contaminating water supplies. Reports claim that the shores of the Irrawaddy River are lined with corpses.

In other areas conditions are also terrible; at a refugee camp in Pyanpon there are just five toilets for 3 500 refugees, according to UNICEF.