New UNOSAT Maps Show Scale of Flooding in Burma

As the death toll in Burma rises to at least 22,000, new satellite maps released by the United Nations show the devastating scale of floods affecting Burma’s Irrawaddy Delta following Cylone Nargis striking Burma on Saturday.

The maps show large swathes of the South coast under water. Residents in these areas mainly live in bamboo huts that would not be able to withstand the force of the floods. The maps can be viewed and downloaded as a high resolution jpeg or PDF at [url=http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk]http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk[/url] The Burma Campaign UK has also produced a scrollable Google Earth Map which allows you to locate flooded villages.

“Most of the attention so far has been on Rangoon, but this shows that it is difficult to reach areas on the coast that have been most badly affected,” said Johnny Chatterton, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “Helicopters and boats are urgently needed to deliver aid,  but it is unlikely the regime will agree to this kind of assistance unless more pressure is put on them.”

India today confirmed it had given 2 days notice to the regime about the cyclone, but the authorities did virtually nothing to warn the population and put aid in place. Instead newspapers urged the regime to vote for a new constitution on May 10th that will enshrine military rule.

For more information contact Johnny Chatterton on 020 7324 4714.

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