Myanmar

Background

Cyclone Nargis swept across Myanmar on May 2 and 3, 2008, triggering a huge sea surge and killing nearly 140,000 people.   Over 2 million affected as the 3.5 metre wall of water hit the low-lying Irrawaddy Delta destroyig villages and paddy fields both there and in Yangon The cyclone was the worst to hit Asia since 1991, when 143,000 people died in Bangladesh.

The rulling Junta was Initially reluctant to let foreign aid workers into the country, however after three weeks aid was allowed in through neighbouring countries.  UN head Ban Ki-moon brokered a deal to allow aid workers and significant aid into the country.