Myanmar says cyclone death toll climbs to 31,938

Myanmar state TV announced the number of missing now stands at 29,770, AP reported on Monday. The death toll is 3,480 more than the number reported on Sunday. Â

Cyclone Nargis has claimed up to 100,000 lives and 220,000 people are missing, according to the U.N. humanitarian agency, which believes that between 1.2 million and 1.9 million people were struggling to survive in the storm's aftermath.

The United States delivered its first relief supplies to Myanmar on Monday, as the U.N. urged the reclusive nation to open its doors to foreign experts who could help up to 2 million cyclone victims facing disease and starvation.

The unarmed military C-130 cargo plane, packed with supplies, flew out of the Thai air force base of Utapao and landed in Yangon, capping prolonged negotiations to persuade Myanmar’s military government to accept U.S. help.

Two more U.S. air shipments were scheduled to land Tuesday.

The U.N. on Monday warned the Myanmar junta that more lives will be lost unless international aid efforts pick up speed immediately as aid officials waited for their visas.

The European Commission also called for an urgent meeting of European Union ministers in charge of humanitarian aid on Tuesday to beef up the EU response to the Myanmar emergency, the Commission said in a statement, AFP reported.

Louis Michel, commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, intends to travel to the cyclone-hit Asian country immediately after the meeting.

"There, he will meet with the Burmese authorities to discuss the best way forward to bringing international assistance to the affected population," the Commission said on Monday.

Photo: AFP