Aid groups worry devastated areas face a second wave of deaths from malnutrition and disease [EPA]

Aid groups say more than half of the 2.4 million survivors needing help have yet to be reached.

A former soldier from Myanmar said despite the destruction by Cyclone Nargis, government troops were still demanding money from survivors to pass through checkpoints to get to Thailand.

Aid agencies complain that many obstacles remain in reaching survivors.

The UN children's organisation, Unicef, says that the amount of aid reaching survivors differs according to locality.

'Shocking' pace

More than 1.2 million people have yet to receive aid, relief groups say [EPA]

Aid groups worry that with insufficient food and clean water, devastated areas of the country face a second wave of deaths from malnutrition and disease.

The United Nations said in its latest report that "there remains a serious lack of sufficient and sustained humanitarian assistance for the affected populations".

The world body said it lacked "a clear understanding of the support being provided by the government of Myanmar to its people".

Tidal surges on May 2-3 reached some 25km inland, laying waste to entire villages and leaving 78,000 people dead and another 56,000 missing, according to the government's count.

"People need basic relief, which is shocking after four weeks," said Sarah Ireland, the regional director of Oxfam, a UK-based humanitarian agency that is still trying to gain permission to work in Myanmar.

"If we were in a normal response by week four, those affected should be
working toward recovery," she told The Associated Press.

"They would be in a position perhaps to think about what they need to restart their lives. But we know people on the ground don't have food to eat."

In depth: Myanmar cyclone

Myanmar: Lessons from Aceh

Millions left homeless in Myanmar

Myanmar red tape blocks relief work

Rush to aid storm survivors

Generals push ahead with vote

Map: The deadly path of Cyclone Nargis

Satellite photos: Before and after the cyclone

Timeline: Asia's deadliest storms

With only seven government helicopters flying to the area, relief supplies are mostly being transported along dirt roads and then by boat.

Boats able to navigate the debris-filled canals are also scarce and efforts to import trucks and other vehicles have been hampered by government red tape.

Meanwhile, aid workers who have visited affected regions have reported that scores of displaced people have been expelled from temporary shelters in schools, monasteries and public buildings.

The expulsions appear part of the military government's attempt to show that people are capable of rebuilding their lives without foreign help.

Recommend this article...

Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto: