UN halts Burma aid in seizure row
The World Food Programme has halted aid shipments to Burma after it says two plane-loads of food were impounded on arrival by the military authorities.
The UN body says the Burmese government seized tonnes of aid material flown in to help victims of Cyclone Nargis, which has killed tens of thousands.
The WFP said it had no choice but to halt aid until the matter was resolved.
A Burmese government spokesman told the Associated Press the UN claims were "baseless accusations".
Ye Htut said the government had taken control of the aid to distribute it "without delay by its own labour to the affected areas".
The country's ruling generals have faced mounting criticism over their handling of the crisis.
The UN fears more than 1.5 million people have been affected by the cyclone, with tens of thousands made homeless and vulnerable to disease.
The World Health Organization says access to clean drinking water and outbreaks of communicable diseases such as dengue and malaria are a major concern.
It is sitting in a warehouse it is not in trucks heading to Irrawaddy Delta where it is critically needed
Paul Risley
World Food Programme
Burmese state media say 22,980 people were killed, but there are fears the figure could rise.
Britain's ambassador to Burma, Mark Canning, said authoritative sources were now speaking of between 63,000 and 100,000 people dead or missing.
Hundreds of thousands of people have no food, water or shelter. International aid agencies on the ground say seven tonnes of high-energy biscuits have been distributed in the delta region, but they have reached only 10% of those that need help.
Despite this, Burma's foreign ministry issued a statement on Friday saying it was not ready to allow foreign aid workers to enter the country.
The junta said it was happy to accept aid, but insisted it would control the distribution itself.
World Breaking News
UN halts Burma aid in seizure row
The World Food Programme has halted aid shipments to Burma after it says two plane-loads of food were impounded on arrival by the military authorities.
The UN body says the Burmese government seized tonnes of aid material flown in to help victims of Cyclone Nargis, which has killed tens of thousands.
The WFP said it had no choice but to halt aid until the matter was resolved.
A Burmese government spokesman told the Associated Press the UN claims were "baseless accusations".
Ye Htut said the government had taken control of the aid to distribute it "without delay by its own labour to the affected areas".
The country's ruling generals have faced mounting criticism over their handling of the crisis.
The UN fears more than 1.5 million people have been affected by the cyclone, with tens of thousands made homeless and vulnerable to disease.
The World Health Organization says access to clean drinking water and outbreaks of communicable diseases such as dengue and malaria are a major concern.
It is sitting in a warehouse it is not in trucks heading to Irrawaddy Delta where it is critically needed
Paul Risley
World Food Programme
Burmese state media say 22,980 people were killed, but there are fears the figure could rise.
Britain's ambassador to Burma, Mark Canning, said authoritative sources were now speaking of between 63,000 and 100,000 people dead or missing.
Hundreds of thousands of people have no food, water or shelter. International aid agencies on the ground say seven tonnes of high-energy biscuits have been distributed in the delta region, but they have reached only 10% of those that need help.
Despite this, Burma's foreign ministry issued a statement on Friday saying it was not ready to allow foreign aid workers to enter the country.
The junta said it was happy to accept aid, but insisted it would control the distribution itself.
