Asia-Pacific Features

In photos: 'Burma: Nargis aftermath, referendum and protests'

By M&C News May 10, 2008, 16:01 GMT

A Myanmar pro-democracy activist displays a replica ballot to vote 'No' during a protest against the referendum on a new constitution outside Myanmar embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, 10 May 2008. Myanmar's military rulers proceeded on May 10, 2008 to hold a referendum intended to cement their political power despite international appeals to postpone the vote in the wake of Cyclone Nargis that could have killed an estimated 100,000 people. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

epa A Myanmar pro-democracy activist holds a picture of cyclone Nargis victims alongs his comrades during a rally against the referendum on a new constitution outside Myanmar embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, 10 May 2008. Myanmar's military rulers proceeded on May 10, 2008 to hold a referendum intended to cement their political power despite international appeals to postpone the vote in the wake of Cyclone Nargis that could have killed an estimated 100,000 people. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

A Myanmar pro-democracy activist lays a wreath and flowers for cyclone Nargis victims during a protest against the referendum on a new constitution outside Myanmar embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, 10 May 2008. Myanmar's military rulers proceeded on May 10, 2008 to hold a referendum intended to cement their political power despite international appeals to postpone the vote in the wake of Cyclone Nargis that could have killed an estimated 100,000 people. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

Myanmar soldiers are seen during cleanup efforts in Yangon, Myanmar, 10 May 2008. An estimated 1.5 million people were affected by Cyclone Nargis, which crashed in to the central coastal region on May 02 and 03, leaving 23,000 dead and 42,000 missing according to official figures. Others estimate the death toll could reach 100,000. EPA/STR

A Burmese woman votes in the referendum on a new constitution, drafted by a military-appointed forum, in Hlegu Township, Yangon Division, Myanmar, 10 May 2008. The vote went ahead Saturday despite international appeals to delay the controversial referendum totally to concentrate on providing emergency relief although it was postponed to May 24 in 47 of the townships worst-hit by the cyclone An estimated 1.5 million people were affected by Cyclone Nargis, which crashed in to the central coastal region on May 2 and 3, leaving 23,000 dead and 42,000 missing according to official figures. Others estimate the death toll could reach 100,000. EPA/NYEIN CHAN NAING

A damaged residential building is pictured, Yangon, Myanmar, 10 May 2008. An estimated 1.5 million people were affected by Cyclone Nargis, which crashed in to the central coastal region on May 02 and 03, leaving 23,000 dead and 42,000 missing according to official figures. Others estimate the death toll could reach 100,000. EPA/STR

A Burmese woman, her face covered in the Burmese tanaka powder, votes in the referendum on a new constitution, drafted by a military-appointed forum, in Hlegu Township, Yangon Division, Myanmar, 10 May 2008. The vote went ahead Saturday despite international appeals to delay the controversial referendum totally to concentrate on providing emergency relief although it was postponed to May 24 in 47 of the townships worst-hit by the cyclone An estimated 1.5 million people were affected by Cyclone Nargis, which crashed in to the central coastal region on May 2 and 3, leaving 23,000 dead and 42,000 missing according to official figures. Others estimate the death toll could reach 100,000. EPA/NYEIN CHAN NAING

A Free Burma Rangers handout photo made available on 10 May 2008 shows survivors of cyclone Nargis at the worst hit area of Bogalay Township, Myanmar. In the wake of cyclone Nargis which may have killed as many as 100,000 people and left up to 1.9 million in need of emergency aid, has come at an awkward time for the regime. EPA/FREE BURMA RANGERS

A worker loads relief goods meant for survivors of Cyclone Nargis at IFRC International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) regional warehouse at Port Klang, Malaysia, 10 May 2008. Countries and aid agencies have met with red tape and delays from the regime as they seek to provide relief to the victims of Cyclone Nargis, which crashed into central Myanmar May 2 and 3, leaving about 23,000 people dead, 42,000 missing and more than a million homeless and in need of food, water and medicine. EPA/AHMAD YUSNI

A forklift moves beside relief goods at IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) regional warehouse at Port Klang, Malaysia, 10 May 2008. The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has warned of dire consequences if foreign aid workers continue to be denied access to Burma. EPA/AHMAD YUSNI

epa A Cambodian driver prepares his truck loaded with aid material supplies to assist Myanmar victims of Cyclone Nargis, at Phnom Penh cargo terminal, Cambodia, 10 May 2008. World Food Program (WFP), in Cambodia dispatches 121,107 tons of relief supplies including mobile warehouses, boats, motorcycles and electric machines to Myanmar victims of Cyclone Nargis which hit the country claimed 22,997 lives, left 42,119 missing and 1,403 injured as other sources claim the real death toll is closer to 100,000. EPA/MAK REMISSA

Cambodian workers load aid material supplies to a cargo plane to assist Myanmar victims of Cyclone Nargis, at Phnom Penh cargo terminal, Cambodia, 10 May 2008. World Food Program (WFP), in Cambodia dispatches 121,107 tons of relief supplies including mobile warehouses, boats, motorcycles and electric machines to Myanmar victims of Cyclone Nargis which hit the country claimed 22,997 lives, left 42,119 missing and 1,403 injured as other sources claim the real death toll is closer to 100,000. EPA/MAK REMISSA

A handout picture made available by UNICEF on 10 May 2008 shows a four-year-old girl and her two-year-old brother sleep in a makeshift shelter after losing their home to the cyclone Nargis, near the village of Pyanpon in the southern Irrawaddy Division. Both have been ill with rashes and exhaustion, but have not received medical assistance. EPA/ADAM DEAN / UNICEF

This picture made available by UNICEF on 10 May 2008 shows a woman breastfeeding her infant in the temporary shelter of a monastery near the village of Pyanpon in the southern Irrawaddy Division. Behind them, another woman and child share the same bed. They have all been displaced by cyclone Nargis. EPA/ADAM DEAN / UNICEF

This picture made available by UNICEF on 10 May 2008 shows a boy lying on a stretcher in a makeshift hospital run by Myanmar Army doctors in the township of Kunyangon in the southern Yangon Division. He is being treated for injuries sustained in cyclone Nargis. On 10 May 2008 in Myanmar, an estimated 1.5 million people are struggling to survive under increasingly desperate conditions in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, which hit the south-western coast on 3 May. The disaster killed at least 22,000 people and displaced 1 million across five states. An estimated 41,000 people are still missing, and at least 5,000 square kilometres of the densely populated Irrawaddy Delta, which bore the brunt of the storm, remain underwater. The displaced are living in congested shelters or in the open and lack access to drinking water, latrines, food and medical supplies. The conditions pose serious risks for outbreaks of infections and water-borne diseases. UNICEF is now distributing prepositioned emergency stocks, but these are not sufficient to meet critical needs that include clean drinking water, food, shelter materials, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, essential drugs and appropriate sanitation facilities. EPA/ADAM DEAN / UNICEF

Myanmar personnel works on top of the roof of Shwedagon Pagoda in the aftermath of Nargis cyclone in Yangon, Myanmar on 10 May 2008. EPA/STR

This picture made available by UNICEF on 10 May 2008 shows women clear the road of debris left by the cyclone, near the village of Pyapon in the southern Irrawaddy Division. On 10 May 2008 in Myanmar, an estimated 1.5 million people are struggling to survive under increasingly desperate conditions in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, which hit the south-western coast on 3 May. The disaster killed at least 22,000 people and displaced 1 million across five states. An estimated 41,000 people are still missing, and at least 5,000 square kilometres of the densely populated Irrawaddy Delta, which bore the brunt of the storm, remain underwater. The displaced are living in congested shelters or in the open and lack access to drinking water, latrines, food and medical supplies. The conditions pose serious risks for outbreaks of infections and water-borne diseases. UNICEF is now distributing prepositioned emergency stocks, but these are not sufficient to meet critical needs that include clean drinking water, food, shelter materials, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, essential drugs and appropriate sanitation facilities. EPA/ADAM DEAN / UNICEF

A Thai air force officer walks past dry food aid including rice, water and medical supplies donated of Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, to a C-130 military transport aircraft to assist Myanmar victims of Cyclone Nargis at the military airport in Bangkok, Thailand, 10 May 2008. Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn had donated 20 tonnes of food, relief supplies, electric generators, and water purifiers to be sent to Myanmar on 10 May 2008 . According to the Myanmar military junta's latest figures, the Nargis cyclone which hit the country claimed 22,997 lives, left 42,119 missing and 1,403 injured as other sources claim the real death toll is closer to 100,000. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK

Thai air force officers load dry food aid including rice, water and medical supplies donated of Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, to a C-130 military transport aircraft to assist Myanmar victims of Cyclone Nargis at the military airport in Bangkok, Thailand, 10 May 2008. Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn had donated 20 tonnes of food, relief supplies, electric generators, and water purifiers to be sent to Myanmar on 10 May 2008 . According to the Myanmar military junta's latest figures, the Nargis cyclone which hit the country claimed 22,997 lives, left 42,119 missing and 1,403 injured as other sources claim the real death toll is closer to 100,000. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK

Myanmar workers unload dry food, water and medical supplies transported by a C-130 Thai military transport aircraft at the airport, Yangon, Myanmar, 10 May 2008. Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn had donated 20 tonnes of food, relief supplies, electric generators, and water purifiers to be sent to Myanmar on 10 May 2008 . According to the Myanmar military junta's latest figures, the Nargis cyclone which hit the country claimed 22,997 lives, left 42,119 missing and 1,403 injured as other sources claim the real death toll is closer to 100,000. EPA/STR

Thai air force officers load electric generators donated of Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, to a C-130 military transport aircraft to assist Myanmar victims of Cyclone Nargis at the military airport in Bangkok, Thailand, 10 May 2008. Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn had donated 20 tonnes of food, relief supplies, electric generators, and water purifiers to be sent to Myanmar on 10 May 2008 . According to the Myanmar military junta's latest figures, the Nargis cyclone which hit the country claimed 22,997 lives, left 42,119 missing and 1,403 injured as other sources claim the real death toll is closer to 100,000. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK

Myanmar workers carry aid from China to assist Myanmar victims of Cyclone Nargis at Yangon airport, Myanmar, 10 May 2008. According to the Myanmar military junta's latest figures, the Nargis cyclone which hit the country claimed 22,997 lives, left 42,119 missing and 1,403 injured as other sources claim the real death toll is closer to 100,000. EPA/STR

A group of Myanmar people works on a sunk boat and a broken bridge in an area affected by cyclone Nargis in a township of Yangon, Myanmar on 10 May 2008. On 10 May 2008 in Myanmar, an estimated 1.5 million people are struggling to survive under increasingly desperate conditions in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, which hit the south-western coast on 3 May. EPA/STR