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Myanmar

Bangladeshi medics arrive in Yangon to care for cyclone victims

YANGON, May 21, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) -- A 33-member medics team from Bangladesh, carrying 7 tons of medical supplies, arrived at the Yangon International Airport Wednesday to render direct medical aid to the country's cyclone victims.

The Bangladesh team became the fifth foreign medical aid group after Thailand, India, Laos and China to come to Myanmar.

The first four foreign medics teams, each comprising dozens of doctors and medical staff, had flown in Myanmar in the past weekend.

These medical aid groups are now stationing in some storm-hit areas for carrying out relief works with the Thai medics and Mekong heathcare team in Laputta and Myaungmya townships, Indian group in Bogalay and Phyapon, Lao group in Kyauktan and Chinese group in Kungyangon.

Meanwhile, the authorities claimed that a total of 122 domestic medical teams, including that from the military and the civil with over 2,000 members, have been serving in the disaster-stricken areas.

Myanmar also announced that the government has increased the spending in relief work to over 50 billion Kyats (over 45.45 million U.S. dollars) from 20 billion Kyats previously allotted.

Deadly tropical cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states -- Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin on May 2 and 3, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon inflicted the heaviest casualties and infrastructural damage.

Hard-hit coastal towns in the southwestern Ayeyawaddy division include Haing Gyi Island, Laputta, Mawlamyinegyun, Bogalay, Phyarpon, Kyaiklat, Ngaputaw, and Dedaye, while worst-hit areas in Yangon division comprise Kungyangon, Thanlyin, Kyauktan, Twantay, Kawmu as well as the Yangon city.

According to an updated official death toll, as many as 77,738 people have been killed with 55,917 still missing, totaling 133, 655, in the disaster. The number of the injured went up to 19,359.