Burma Escapes Worst Effects of Deadly Tsunamis

  06 January 2005

A group of United Nations and private aid agencies says Burma was largely spared from the devastating effects of last month's deadly tsunamis.

The Tsunami Assistance Coordination Group conducted an assessment of villages in southern Burma most affected by the tsunamis.  The group estimates Burma's death toll as between 60 to 80 people.  It also estimates that 10,000 15,000 people were affected by the disaster, and that 5,000-7,000 need immediate help.

Burma's military authorities initially said about 59 people had been confirmed dead.  But aid groups were skeptical, because of the ruling military's censorship of the press.

Earlier Thursday, Burmese Prime Minister General Soe Win told an emergency tsunami summit in Jakarta, Indonesia that his government was capable of dealing with the aftermath of the tsunamis.

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