Myanmar: Death toll spirals, but politics over aid continues

A satellite image illustrates the complete devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. (Pic: AP)

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New Delhi: The death toll in Myanmar's cyclone by US estimates is over 1 lakh with at least 1 million in urgent need of shelter and life saving assistance.

But Myanmar's state-run radio and television channels continue to report the count as a little over 22,000 dead, about 42,000 missing and 1,300 injured.

There appears to be more focus on Saturday's referendum with people being urged to turn out in large numbers to vote.

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on the military junta to put off the referendum but the military says it will go ahead except in those areas of the Irrawaddy Delta hit by cyclone Nargis.

The World Health Organisation said it had received reports of malaria outbreaks in this area and fears of waterborne illnesses from dirty water and poor sanitation.

International frustration is growing over the military regime's refusal to allow foreign relief teams in.

The military says aid is welcome but not relief teams. International organisations are worried that aid left at Yangon airport will be siphoned off by corrupt military officers.

The US at one point threatened to airdrop supplies in the affected areas. Earlier the French foreign minister demanded that the UN authorise an operation that would force Myanmar to accept foreign relief teams.

India is expected to send another planeload of relief material on Saturday. Indian diplomats downplayed reports that Indian relief teams maybe allowed into the country. They said Myanmar's sensitivities on that score were well known.