Myanmar's junta - under fire for failing cyclone survivors after seizing shipments of international food aid - has agreed to let a U.S. cargo plane bring in supplies, AP reported. American relief workers, however, are still being barred entry.
Heavy rain forecast in the next week was certain to exacerbate the misery of an estimated 1 million survivors awaiting food, clean water, shelter and medicine. Diplomats and aid groups warned the number of dead could eventually exceed 100,000 because of illnesses and said thousands of children may have been orphaned.
On Saturday - with phone lines down, roads blocked, and electricity networks destroyed - it was nearly impossible to reach isolated areas in the swamped Irrawaddy delta. The problem was worsened by the lack of experienced international aid workers and equipment.
Survivors from one of the worst-affected areas, near the town of Bogalay, were among those fighting hunger, illness and wrenching loneliness.
"All my 28 family members have died," said Thein Myint, a 68-year-old fisherman who was overcome by tears and trauma as he tried to explain how the cyclone swept away the rest of his family. "I am the only survivor."