Red Cross: Up to 128,000 may have died in Myanmar

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

YANGON, Myanmar - The Red Cross estimated Wednesday that the cyclone death toll in Myanmar could be as high as 128,000 — a much higher figure than the government tally. The U.N. warned a second wave of deaths will follow unless the military regime lets in more aid quickly.

The grim forecast came as heavy rains drenched the devastated Irrawaddy River delta, disrupting aid operations already struggling to reach up to 2.5 million people in urgent need of food, water and shelter.

"Another couple of days exposed to those conditions can only lead to worsening health conditions and compound the stress people are living in," said Shantha Bloemen, a spokeswoman for UNICEF.

A tropical depression in the Bay of Bengal added new worries, but late in the day forecasters said it was weakening and unlikely to grow into a cyclone.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080514/ap_on_re_as/myanmar

[coriolis]

1. Almost certainly, hundreds more are dying every hour.

The ruling junta is probably banking on it.

[Crunchy Frog]

2. I wonder how many more are going to die of infections and cholera

and starvation.