"SPDC turns disaster into catastrophe" describes how Burma's military regime inflicted more injury on its own people in the aftermath of cyclone Nargis. Burma's people suffered needlessly as the SPDC obstructed aid and disaster relief teams from entering the country. Much of the aid that did arrive, was appropriated by the junta for its own use or sold to desperate survivors. As before, the SPDC continues with the second phase of its constitutional referendum while people are evicted from the only shelter they have so that polling places can be readied. This briefer is a follow-up to "DISASTER" (BN 2008/1042) available at http://www.altsean.org/Reports/Disaster.php ..... The $11.7 billion question 2 SPDC downplays death toll 3 Aid workers blocked 4 Help us help you 6 Aid trickles in 6 Logistical nightmare 6 SPDC steals aid 8 Propaganda machine 9 Damaged infrastructure 9 Food shortages 10 Children 11 Monks shelter survivors 12 Public health catastrophe 13 SPDC says, UN says 15 Aid pledged.....� Senior General Than Shweâ�â�¢s surprise concession to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon that all aid workers would be allowed into Burma meets with skepticism, owing to the regimeâ�â�¢s continuous obstruction of aid efforts that went on right up to the meeting between the two leaders on 23 May.� To prove that this not another empty promise, aid supplies and workers already in Rangoon must be immediately allowed into cyclone-stricken areas. � The ASEAN-led â�Å"Coalition of Mercy� must specify terms and conditions for aid to be delivered, and insist on the involvement of local civil society organizations. � UN figures put the death toll of cyclone Nargis between 63,290 - 101,682, with 220,000 missing and 2.4 million affected. SPDC says that 77,738 persons have died, 55,917 are missing, 19,359 injured. � The SPDC continues to thwart humanitarian efforts, refusing visas to foreign staff and blocking aid workers from entering worst-hit areas. � The SPDC appropriates aid supplies, and forces survivors to work, vote â�Å"Yes�, and pay for donated items. � The SPDC prevents overseas agencies from importing key items, including food and communications. It sells the items to aid agencies, including donated mobile phones for $1,500 each. � After tough negotiations and multiple concessions to the junta, humanitarian aid is now reaching about one fifth of the estimated 2.4 million needy survivors. � SPDC-controlled media only show the militaryâ�â�¢s relief operations and block out details of other local and international relief efforts, including those led by monks. Information on the extent of damage and suffering is suppressed. The regime bars foreign media from entering Burma and limit access of local media to affected areas. SPDC issues restrictive guidelines for media coverage of relief operations. � Monks play a key role in recovery operations, including providing accommodation for 70% of homeless survivors. � An estimated 1.6 million hectares of Burmaâ�â�¢s most productive rice producing land has been destroyed. � Survivors are suffering facing outbreaks of cholera and malaria while malnourished and exposed to monsoon weather.