Rangoon residents rush to hospital (AP Xinhua Photo)

He said his government was ready to accept international assistance, and aid shipments were now being prepared.

Thousands of survivors of Cyclone Nargis are lacking shelter, drinking water, power and communications, but in many regions help has not yet arrived.

Are you in Burma? Have you been affected by the cyclone? Do you have relatives who have been affected by cyclone?

Do you think the government warn the people sufficiently enough? Were there enough preventive measures to minimise the casualities?

What are the best ways to help the victims of cyclone?

Listen to live Have Your Say discussion

The followings reflect the balance of opinions received so far...

For the time being, I am not in Burma but my family are still there. They live in Yangon and have been affected with minor damages. The government had not warned sufficiently enough. Because they have never practised such kind of exercise and no evacuation plan and emergency preparedness, never educated the public how to response such kind of case. May be they will say, they have set up the committee or blur blur ... These things will be on paper and on air only. The best ways to help the victims are to reach them as soon as possible, give shelter, food and medicines for each and everyone.
Tin, Singapore

Well how can we help the victims! Unless the SPDC stop stubbornness and willing to issue visas to aid workers, the life of thousands will lost in coming few weeks due to diseases and food shortages. As an individual from farm land, we can only pray for the victims and SPDC to grant visas to all aid workers.
Hkun, London

For the time being, I am not in Burma but my family are still there. They live in Yangon and have been affected with minor damages. The government had not warned sufficiently enough.   Tin, Singapore

I wrote this email because I want to express my feelings. We are all suffering lack of water, electricity, as you know. The Government does not do anything for us. The soldiers do not even cut the trees that are their job. When the demonstration happened in September, the Government called all the soldiers from all over the country to crack down the strike. Now where are they? I cannot understand why they do not let the international organizations to help while they cannot even solve their problem. We have no vote for this Government.
K

The military government is unable to help the people because it does not love its population. It does care for its own affairs. I do not think it would have done something necessary for the warning. It is worse to say that it does not accept help from anybody. Help should be the main source, which can help our people. It should accept help from outside. It should do it now straight away. Our people are suffering right now. Otherwise, it should be charged with the genocide, indirectly or even directly.
kyaw naing, Marseille, France

Where is Snr Gen Than Shwe? He is not saying anything regards to people of Burma. Is he concern about the people of Burma?
Kindreligion, San Francisco, USA

I would like to pray for people to get help. No matter what type of government it was, UN should support the public who require the help. Put the politics aside; let us help people as a human being. Support is more important than anything else is either by praying or physical support.
P Din, UK

I hope the disaster will open the eyes of the Generals who are isolated and detached from the turmoils of the people.   David Wong, Canada

Now the best way to help the victims is to support them with essential items in order to save the lives until the normality comes, and accept the aids from the international community ignoring the differences.
S.Mohan Singh, India

Military government must accept international aid. If they do not give enough aid to troubled Burmese people; it is more criminal than genocide.
Myint Moe, New York

International community should make sure on the ground that the government is not stealing the aid.
Kindreligion Lum, USA

I hope the disaster will open the eyes of the Generals who are isolated and detached from the turmoils of the people.
David wong, Vancouver, Canada

Burmese government has made an estimation of death toll to 15000 when they are accepting the international aid. They will manipulate those aids and distribute only a little to the victims. Currently, state TV shows the pictures of military men distributing food to the people regarding that they are helping. Actually, their agenda is to gain ‘YES VOTE’ in coming referendum. So, please try to inform people inside Burmese for that.
Sam

Make sure the aid will not go to the pocket of the generals. The generals are hungrier than ever. Make sure the lost should be calculated.
Ko Naing, San Francisco

I think the best way to help the people is we have to smuggle all aid as much as we can if the Burmese government will not allow the international aids into the country. We should offer these aids to the local NGOs who we know. Then the local NGOs can go to help and provide to the people.
Lawi Weng, Thailand