Burma being urged to open up to foreign aid

The United States is urging Burma to accept help following a cyclone which is reported to have killed more than ten thousand people.

The appeal was made by the First Lady, Laura Bush, who said the US had allocated two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in emergency aid.

Mrs Bush said US could come up with bigger package if Burma allowed in an American team to assess the disaster.

European Union, Japan and India have also offered emergency relief. Critics in Burma say the authorities have been slow to respond to the crisis and gave inadequate warnings about the approaching Cyclone.

Burmese junta has an uneasy relationship with foreign aid agencies but Burmese foreign minister Nyan Win said the country would welcome international assistance.

The UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-Moon said he was trying to find out the best way UN could help.

UN Secretary General
Ban Ki Moon said he has mobilised UN assesement team to find out what UN can do.

Rangoon residents told BBC that authorities have been unavailabe or slow to reach for assistence and this has caused anger and resentment among the people.

People are left to themselves to clear the debris following the storm but it would be some times before the situation is back to anywhere close to normal.