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Brown: 'Let us help Burma victims'

Brown: 'Let us help Burma victims'

Gordon Brown has urged Burma's rulers to give aid workers "unfettered access" to cyclone victims.

The military junta is still said to be frustrating efforts to get supplies to desperate survivors of the disaster, who are thought to number as many as 1.9 million.

The Prime Minister announced Britain is to send the Royal Navy frigate HMS Westminster to the stricken country for humanitarian operations, as well as organising an aid flight and donating millions.

Mr Brown said: "We have already made available £5 million. We have got a humanitarian team now in Rangoon to assess all options for getting help through to people in need.

"We are sending HMS Westminster so it is available for humanitarian operations and a flight will leave from Dubai today that will give shelter for thousands of people in Burma.

He added: "It is increasingly important that the Burmese authorities recognise that their lack of co-operation is preventing assistance getting to people and that unfettered access should be made available immediately."

The World Food Programe has warned emergency food is being delivered at a fraction of the rate needed for the estimated 1.5 million survivors of Cyclone Nargis.

A US military aid flight flew into Rangoon from Thailand on Monday carrying 8,300 bottles of water, 1,350 blankets and 10,800 mosquito nets, which will help as many as 30,000 people.

The White House says it plans two more aid flights to the country as well as another $13 million (£6.6m) in aid to UN agencies.

US President George W Bush joined condemnation of the military junta for failing to act more quickly to accept international help, saying: "Either they are isolated or callous."

He added: "It's been days and no telling how many people have lost their lives as a result of the slow response.

"An American plane finally went in but the response isn't good enough."

Three Medecins Sans Frontieres flights carrying supplies are also due to land in Burma.

The country's military rulers are still refusing to let in foreign logistics teams, who are ready and waiting for Burma visas in the Thai capital Bangkok.

Th UN says between 1.2 million and 1.9 million are fighting to survive in the aftermath of the storm that struck nine days ago.

Most of the victims were killed by the 12ft (3.5 m) wall of seawater that hit the Irrawaddy delta along with the Category 4 cyclone's 120 mph winds.

The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said: "The number of deaths could range from 63,290 to 101,682, and 220,000 people are reported to be missing.

"Given the gravity of the situation, including the lack of food and water, some partners have reported fears for security, and violent behaviour in the most severely afflicted areas."

Burma's official figures put the toll on Sunday to 31, 938 dead and 33, 416 missing from the storm on the night of May 2 and early on May 3.

To make a donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Burma, go to http://www.dec.org.uk/item/200

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.

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