Kean Wong:

Aid is getting to victims of the cyclone and storm surge that tore through Burma's Irrawaddy delta on Saturday. Officials say at least 15,000 people died and another
30,000 are missing. The toll could be higher in low-lying areas and remote villages.
Here more.



Foreign Minister Nyan Win says 10,000 people have died just in Bogalay alone, a town 50 miles from Yangon. And United Nations aid officials say several hundred thousands are left homeless.

The scale of the disaster drew from the military regime a rare acceptance of outside help.

Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stephen Smith, says Australia is ready to assist the victims.

[Stephen Smith, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs]:
"Whilst we have very grave difficulties with the regime in Burma, we have over the period been continuing to render moderate humanitarian assistance directly to the people of Burma. So we stand ready, willing and able to assist in conjunction with the United Nations, and the relevant agencies."

But the military junta is using the disaster to win popularity. State controlled TV coverage showed top generals greeting homeless victims in Buddhist temples. But the soldiers were seen clearing debris and trees only at major intersections. This is fuelling a sense among residents that the military rulers are not doing enough. Anger at the authorities is still high because of their bloody crackdown on protests led by Buddhist monks last September.