US aid flight to cyclone-hit Burma not going ahead
Updated
![Burma has been devastated by Cyclone Nargis, with the latest estimates suggesting more than 100,000 people may have died. [AFP]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/base/burma_cyclone_afp_080508.jpg "Burma has been devastated by Cyclone Nargis, with the latest estimates suggesting more than 100,000 people may have died. [AFP]")
Burma has been devastated by Cyclone Nargis, with the latest estimates suggesting more than 100,000 people may have died. [AFP]
A planned US aid flight to cyclone-hit Burma is not going ahead.
The US ambassador to Thailand, Eric John, says it is not clear if there has been a mix-up or if the ruling junta has withdrawn permission.
"We don't have permission yet for the C-130 (transport plane) to go in," he said.
"I don't know whether they rescinded the decision or if there was a miscommunication."
Earlier, the US embassy said the junta had agreed to accept US emergency aid after last weekend's devastating cyclone, allowing at least one American plane to deliver supplies.
Mr John says the United States is still hopeful US aid workers will be allowed in, despite signs to the contrary from Burma, which has been stalling issuing visas to many aid workers.
"I'm optimistic that the Burmese leadership is going to make the right decision on visas, make the right decision on C-130 or other assistance," he said.
Cyclone Nargis pounded the country's low-lying south late Friday-Saturday, killing nearly 23,000 people by the regime's official count.
The United States has urged Burma's military rulers to accept international disaster relief after the top US diplomat in Rangoon warned that more than 100,000 people may have died.
UN relief flight lands
The first United Nations relief flight has landed in Burma, five days after the cyclone disaster.
Our correspondent in Bangkok, Peter Lloyd, says the plane carrying supplies for the World Food Program touched down in Rangoon a few hours ago, carrying tents, tarpaulins and basic medicines.
The United Nations has announced a $US10 million cash payment to Burma's military government to help it feed and shelter survivors.
In another development, four UN experts have arrived in the country to help co-ordinate the disaster response.
Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), says the four Asian members of the UN disaster assessment and coordination team based in Bangkok are expected to arrive in Rangoon soon.
She says a fifth non-Asian expert is still awaiting his visa.
The reluctance of Burma's military rulers to allow foreign experts and dedicated relief flights into the country has caused international frustration.
Foreign leaders say it has compounded the misery for a million people homeless and short of food and water.
