While the world looks elsewhere, the humanitarian and political problems in Burma continue. But global church and development agencies are continuing to work on the short- and long-term development issues facing the country.

Christian Aid is appealing for more funds to help survivors of the Burma cyclone so partner organisations can continue to carry out vital relief and rehabilitation work.

Burmese cyclone survivors face a massive crisis unless they are urgently delivered aid, leading aid agencies have warned - while Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on Burma's generals to ease restrictions on outside assistance.

Burma's military regime is distributing international aid today. But it is covering the boxes with the names of top generals in an effort to turn the relief effort for last week's devastating cyclone into a propaganda exercise.

Development agencies and United Nations officials are exasperated at the obstructiveness of the Burmese junta toward an international aid effort aimed at bringing desperately needed supplies to victims of the recent cyclone.

Teams from Disasters Emergency Committee member agencies, along with flights of emergency relief items, are now reaching those affected by Cyclone Nargis. DEC is calling for urgent donations to the DEC Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal.

As the death toll from the Burma cyclone continues to rise dramatically, possibly to around 100,000, the Methodist Church and the Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF) in Britain have launched an emergency appeal for funds.

Global church development agencies, including the UK-based Christian Aid, are calling on the international community and the Burmese government to use all available means to help those affected by cyclone Nargis.

Shelter is the most immediate need as up to one million people face homelessness after Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh leaving thousands dead, Christian charity World Vision has said.

Churches in Bangladesh have launched a massive relief effort, with support from international partners and agencies, for victims of the devastating cyclone that has claimed thousands of lives along the country's southwestern coast.