Burma's aid snub courts calamity: govt

The federal government fears a calamity if help doesn't get to the millions of Burmese left homeless and hungry after Cyclone Nargis savaged their country.

Australia has boosted its aid to the cyclone-ravaged nation to $25 million but has great fears about the impact of the ruling military junta's continued refusal to accept international help.

More than a week after the cyclone, Burma's ruling generals are still blocking entry for many foreign aid workers, as well as impounding a number of flights of emergency supplies.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith stressed the scale of the tragedy made it imperative for Burma's ruling regime to accept assistance.

"It's a human tragedy on a mammoth scale which no one nation can handle," he said.

With relief still to reach many of the victims, estimates of the death toll continue to grow as hunger and disease emerge as new threats.

About 100,000 people are feared dead and at least 1.5 million have been left homeless after the cyclone hit the south of the country.

Mr Smith repeated Australia's plea for the Burmese military to allow the international community into the country to help with disaster relief.

"If that assistance is not provided, then our great fear is that in the next few days... disease will take hold and the adverse consequences will be on an enormous, calamitous scale," he said.