May 11, 2008
Burma's emergency telecoms delay
Foreign aid workers dedicated to delivering emergency telecoms in disaster areas have been prevented from going into cyclone-hit Burma. The BBC reports.
"Like many charity groups, the Telecoms Sans Frontières (TSF) organisation has so far been denied entry visas by the military-run government.
A TSF team has been waiting in Bangkok, Thailand, with its equipment all week.
If visas are eventually granted, the team will go in to set up phone and other network links.
These will be used by many aid groups to co-ordinate the huge relief effort that is needed.
Locals will also be offered "welfare calls", to make contact with friends and family who will have been worried about their safety.
The UN fears more than 1.5 million people have been affected by Cyclone Nargis which struck on Saturday.
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