Aid offering to Burma 'a pittance'

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Andrew Robb has attacked the Government for not offering enough aid to Burma's cyclone victims.

The United Nations is appealing for $200 million in aid. Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith yesterday announced Australia will provide $25 million and says it is absolutely essential that the Burmese junta co-operate with aid agencies.

Aid agencies in Burma say it is only a matter of time before there are large-scale outbreaks of cholera and other water-borne diseases in areas affected by Cyclone Nargis.

Mr Robb will not say how much Australia should give, but he says $25 million is not enough.

"It's a pittance, it's embarrassing almost. We are the 13th wealthiest country in the world, with a $20 billion surplus to be announced in two days' time," he said.

"Over a million people in Burma are homeless some 50,000 are dead and we're offering $25 million. I mean it's ridiculous."

He says Australia has offered much more to countries in the past who suffered a natural disaster.

"We must offer many times what we've offered to date. We offered $1 billion for the tsunami when there were again millions of people homeless around our region," he said.

Aid trickles through

Meanwhile, more aid is trickling through to the survivors of the cyclone, but aid agencies say the military government is still holding up the rescue operation.

There are also reports that disease and dehydration are taking hold in the region worst hit by the cyclone, the Irrawaddy delta.

Save the Children fund spokesman Andrew Kirkwood says some aid is getting to survivors.

"People have been able to get hold of at least a minimum supply of boats and trucks and fuel. I think that's really helped," he said.

"It seems that material's being cleared through the airport much more easily. We unloaded truck loads of tents and plastic sheeting and sent those out to the delta this morning."