Over 133,000 people dead or missing in Myanmar; Int'l pressure on junta intensifies

The government claims the cyclone left 77,738 dead and 55,917 missing, but given the military junta's nature of secrecy and control over the media, the international community suspects the actual figure could be much higher.

In fact, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimated Wednesday that the total death toll might be between 68,833 and 127,990. The United Nations (UN) has said more than 100,000 may have died.

While the Red Cross launched an emergency appeal Friday for $50.8 million for the devastated region, the UN said it was organizing an emergency summit in Asia to coordinate global efforts in rushing aid to cyclone victims in Myanmar.

The UN and the Red Cross said 1.6-2.5 million people are in urgent need of aid, including food, water, blankets, mosquito nets, tarpaulins, medicines and tents and if the aid is not reached on time, epidemic of gigantic proportion may break out. Already relief officials in Burma are saying water-borne diseases like cholera have broken out and other diseases like malaria, dengue, typhoid, diarrhea, dysentery, tuberculosis and skin infections may add to the death toll due to lack of sufficient medical aid.

Many fear than children and women in crowded relief camps will become vulnerable to prostitution and human trafficking unless proper measures are taken.