Even as relief workers claimed that they had free access to refugees between Kyone-Mangay and Laputta Township area, where the authorities had not reached, the junta continues to severely restrict international aid workers.

According to an NGO, which has ethnic youth volunteers, they can freely access the area and help the cyclone victims, while aid groups said that there were around 1 million people, who had still not been reached.

"I have visited about 10 villages, Kyun Chaung, Thabyu Chaung , Kan Su Lay, Alay Yay Kyaw, Htin Su, and Yay Ka Myin 1 & 2 twice over the past few days. These villages were completely destroyed by the cyclone and the majority of the people in these villages were killed," explained a volunteer.

According to the volunteer, only 20 per cent people survived after the cyclone hit Burma and currently they are living in makeshift shelters, which are covered by coconut leaves. Apart from their own organization, no other aid and rescue team had yet reached these villages, the volunteer said.

There were many villages in the area, which had received nothing in terms of aid from the relief organizations and helpers, the volunteer added. "They are waiting for aid. If you want to help them, just go there by making your own arrangement and do not inform the authorities," she emphasized.

The survivors urgently need food, essential commodities, medicine and water, since they cannot use water from the rivers, which have been polluted by the number of bodies floating in them. There is also the possibility of cholera breaking out in the future.

According to the NGO workers who are helping in the area, they have just managed to reach 8 villages, where they supplied blankets, mosquito nets, clothes, plates, pots, fat, rice, salt and some medicine. The workers suggested that if the locals wanted to help they should contact the village leaders.