Try to think about this.

You survive a cyclone with winds of 190 km/per hour. Storm surges bring 12 foot waves inland. You live on a delta, and 5 thousand square kilometres around you flood. 95% of buildings are destroyed.

Everything is flattened. People you know are dead or injured. There is no infrastructure, communication systems are down, there no clean drinking water, little shelter.

An open cut can be fatal. Cholera, dysentery, malaria will follow your hunger and thirst.

Some indigenous relief workers are in the country, working with the UN, Doctors without Borders, World Vision, the World Food Program.
After 6 days of little to no help one in five children have diarrhea.
(UNICEF/ Doctors without Borders)

You live in a country ruled by superstitious military. Westerners are not welcomed or wanted, and Asian neighbours are being kept out. The police and military are dumping bodies in rivers and selling what little food or water is being allowed in.  Your government tells you 21 thousand people died in the storm and go on about their referendum a week after the worst storm you’ve lived through.

Soldier are not equipped to help, many of those you fear aren’t getting fed either and you wonder if the world has forgotten you. You’re getting to sick to care. The temperature is 40C and heavy rain is on the way. Soe Moe:

“It’s been 6 days since the cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar and the situation is getting worse day by day due to the decomposed animals and human lying around the effected areas. Recent days, we had witnessed the generosity of the world as the humanitarian aid in millions of dollars. But it is very sad to find out that Burmese government is hesitating to grant visa to UN aid workers and NGOs in the name of politics. It is not the time for politics during the time of humanitarian crisis. And it is very sad to hear on news that the western nations are willing to provide the aid needing by the cyclone Nargis victims while Burmese government is refusing to accept them.

“Today first UN aid plane has landed in Yangon International Airport after 2 days delay due to the visa issues. And more planes are waiting permission from Burmese government to land in Yangon. Italy, Thai, India and Indonesia aid planes had been allowed to land in Yangon. We have seen the death toll increasing dramatically over the days.

“What we desperately need is experience aid works and rescue units to help the survivors, to dispose the dead bodies properly and to control the deadly diseases. We need helicopters to go to the most remote areas where the aid is greatly needed. In Burmese air force, we have limited numbers of helicopters and they won’t be able to help those from remote areas. US military is offering aid mission. The US airbase in Thailand is ready to send its helicopters and ships to Burma for search and rescue mission. And again, Burmese generals are not going to accept the offer because they are Americans. This is not the time for like or dislike. This is the time to save as much people as we can.”

Global Voices Online
Asia Times
The Irrawaddy News (english. Opposition newspaper)

Wah Eh Htoo – Burmese World Vision worker first person account. 600 World Vision Burma workers are facing logistical nightmares. Many have lost everything, but have been able to provide water, food and clothing for about 1000 families, for now. They need to get their experts and supplies in.

Our bus became the leader of a convey of trucks and other buses attempting to head into the city. Progress through the wreckage-strewn streets was slow. It took us three hours to drive a mere three miles.

The journey to Yangon was like entering a battlefield with the wounded and dying lying on ground. Flood water filled the neighborhoods we passed.

Yangon had been excommunicated with no electricity. I wondered how news of the disaster was going to reach the outside world.

A CNN reporter snuck into the country. He almost didn’t get out.  What is it like for highly trained relief workers to have to sit in Thailand with food, water, medical supplies, tents and know that each day that passes 1.5 people need your help now?
Times London reporter – I stopped counting the bodies