Children eat rice that was donated, in
their destroyed home near Kundangon May 13, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
YANGON, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of
Myanmar's cyclone storm Nargis rose by 4,827, bringing the total to 43,318,
according to a news report of the state radio Thursday evening.
Altogether 27,838 people still remained missing, the
report said, adding that the number of injured went to 1,403.
Deadly tropical cyclone Nargis, which occurred over
the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states -- Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago,
Mon and Kayin -- on May 2 and 3, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon inflicted the
heaviest casualties and infrastructural damage.
Hard-hit coastal towns in the southwestern Ayeyawaddy
division include Haing Gyi Island, Laputta, Mawlamyinegyun, Bogalay, Phyarpon,
Kyaiklat, Ngaputaw, and Dedaye, while worst-hit areas in Yangon division
comprised Kungyangon, Thanlyin, Kyauktan, Twantay, Kawmu as well as the Yangon
city.
A group of displaced people affected by
Cyclone Nargis is seen near Yangon May 12, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
UNITED NATIONS, May 14 (Xinhua) --
The UN's top humanitarian official urged the Myanmar authorities on Wednesday to
allow more international aid workers into the affected area in the delta outside
Yangon, the country's largest city.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference at the UN
Headquarters, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said
that opening up the area as much and as soon as possible could make a huge
difference. Full story
UNITED NATIONS, May 14
(Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he has invited some
ambassadors, representatives of members of the world body to discuss helping
Myanmar's cyclone disaster relief Wednesday afternoon.
"I have invited some ambassadors, representatives of the
member states, to discuss all the options, how we can go ahead," Ban told
reporters. "Until now, regrettably, I think we have spent much of our time and
energy in facilitating aid, getting food in, and visas being issued." Full story
