While the grim death toll from the earthquake in China is at least relieved by pictures of survivors pulled from the wreckage and a relief effort that has been massive, organized and immediate, the situation in Myanmar goes from bad to worse. To the catastrophes of flooding and starvation is now being added the scourge of disease, as the first signs of what could well prove an epidemic of cholera are reported. Unless a massive international aid effort is launched from this very moment, the number of deaths in the Irrawaddy delta could rise from the present 78,000 reported dead and missing to twice this figure and even more.
The pity of all this is that many, if not most,

IT HAS taken 30 years to build up trust and a working relationship with the ruling authorities, and finally, the long, slow nurturing has paid off for World Vision in Myanmar. Today, it is one of the rare relief organisations trusted by the junta to distribute aid directly to cyclone victims.
ralia, was one of the first on the ground after the ferocious Nargis left a trail of death and devastation on May 3. Considering that Myanmar visas have been so hard to get, the fact that he was allowed in was already a minor miracle.
ost immediately.

A boy carries water at a village near Yangon badly hit by Cyclone Nargis. Photo / Reuters
A boy carries water at a village near Yangon badly hit by Cyclone Nargis. Photo / Reuters
to a final figure. It said the government had "carried out search and rescue and relief work and collection of data, promptly, immediately and extensively."