In developments today, the first US aid flight has landed in Yangon bringing much needed supplies. The unarmed flight is hoped to be the first of many, depending on permission from the Generals. The US military has a vast logistical network that is waiting to swing into action provided the go ahead is granted by the Burmese military regime. Several US navy ships, some equipped with helicopters and aircraft are making their way to positions off the coast of Burma in the hope that they will be able to join in the relief effort. Adm. Timothy J. Keating, head of the U.S. Pacific Command said that the US navy has Marines, six C-130s and a large number of helicopters at their disposal which are waiting for permission to go to work.

News reports today suggest that up to 25 boats of the Burmese Navy fleet were lost in the cyclone. These vessels would have been critical to the relief effort, which requires much of the aid to be delivered by boat to low lying areas that remain under water. Over the weekend the ICRC suffered a severe blow when its first boat loaded with supplies hit a submerged tree and sunk. The ship was carrying supplies for around 1000 people including water purification tablets, rice and drinking water.

In the Irrawaddy Delta many remain stranded without aid. Crops have been destroyed and locals are relying on rain water. It is estimated that only a tenth of the aided needed has actually been delivered. Even though aid agencies have large amounts of supplies, they have not been able to gain access to remote areas like Laputta.

There are accusations surfacing that some members of the military have been siphoning off aid, keeping the best supplies for themselves. There have been further accusations that rotting rice has been given out to survivors desperate for food. The military has also been instrumental in trying to suppress journalistic freedom. Reporters are only allowed to report in general terms about the cyclone and are forbidden to write about survivors not getting enough aid. Restrictions on the press are limiting the ability of those outside the affected areas to access accurate information.

In a press conference the UN secretary General Ban Ki Moon says that despite repeated efforts over the last week, he has not been able to get through to the generals by phone. He delivered two letters instead over the last few days, but is yet to hear a resonse. He has condemned the relief effort in the strongest terms and deems the regimes efforts as “unacceptably slow”.

On the question of access, things are progressing, though very slowly. UN Humanitarian Coordinator John Holmes, says that clearance of customs for aid and the granting of visas has been sorted out, however it is taking time, which is now reaching the critical stage. Regarding the possibility of aid being delivered by air, Mr Holmes said that this method is not so effective and that coordination with the regime should not be abandoned. Despite the concern over aid drops by Mr Holmes, the security council will be meeting shortly to determine their likelihood should the generals remain defiant.

The response of the Burmese regime lies in stark contrast to the efforts of the Chinese government in reaction to the powerful earthquake that hit Sichuan Province yesterday. Chinese authorities are said to have been on the scene within the first hour and a half after the quake. The Chinese military has sent 20 000 troops to the worst hit area, with a further 20 000 on the way.

Burmese state media have released new death toll figures from cyclone Nargis today. Official figures now stand at 32000 dead and a further 30 000 still missing. International aid agencies predict that the death toll could top 100 000 however.