Get tough with Burma, says Clegg

Aid should be parachuted into Burma within the next two or three days - whether the authorities there like it or not, says Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg.

Burma's military-run government is refusing to let most aid workers over the border of the cyclone-hit state.

Tim Costello, of World Vision charity, said staff had "literally overflowed in tears" for not being allowed to help.

But International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said acting without permission would be "incendiary".

'United front'

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also condemned the actions of the Burmese government and said he was "determined" that aid would get through.

"I think the time is now coming, drawing very close to taking the most drastic step of all, which is dropping aid directly into Burma"
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg

'No British casualties' in Burma

He said: "There are children going without food, there are people without shelter.

"It is utterly unacceptable that when international aid is offered, the regime will try to prevent that getting in."

Mr Alexander told BBC 2's Newsnight on Thursday the "best way forward" was not unilateral action but an international "united front" to win access for aid agencies.

"Our responsibility is to make sure that our sole focus is getting the aid to the people who desperately need it."

'Important step'

He said carrying out forced air-drops of supplies would be the wrong action to take.

But Mr Clegg said the United Nations had a right to step in when governments failed to protect their own people.

The Lib Dem leader told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "I think the time is now coming, drawing very close to taking the most drastic step of all, which is dropping aid directly into Burma, irrespective of the wishes of the Burmese regime.

"This, of course, in practical terms is not an ideal solution because you're dropping aid from the air, it doesn't guarantee it gets to the people who need it.

"But I think it would be an important step to show that the international community is simply not going to stand idly by."

The World Food Programme (WFP) has halted aid shipments to Burma after the contents of its first delivery were impounded on arrival in the military-ruled country.

The UN body says the Burmese government seized tonnes of aid material flown in to help victims of Cyclone Nargis, which has killed tens of thousands.

The WFP said it had no choice but to halt aid until the matter was resolved.

Speaking at a press conference in London, representatives from the Red Cross, Save the Children and medical relief agency, Merlin, said access was severely restricted, but some aid was getting through.

A Merlin spokeswoman said they had been able to provide some medical supplies, and that a boat was ready to provide hospital facilities, but that there was now great danger from malaria, dengue fever and snake bites.

Save the Children said they were reaching a extra 10,000 people each day with a basic life saving response kit of bottled water, food, plastic sheeting and blankets.

'Flowing funds'

The Red Cross said they were working through several thousand trained volunteers in the country and had been able to distribute about 2,000 family kits, which include items such as cooking pots and blankets.

Jasmine Whitbread, of charity Save the Children, said despite the obstructions, it was imperative people do not stop their donations for fear the funds and supplies will fall into the wrong hands.

She said: "Our concern is that people will start to doubt whether their donations are really getting there and making a difference.

"Our message is that we are reaching these people and we really desperately need the funds to continue flowing."

As of 1900 BST on Friday, donations from the UK had reached some £4m, said the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which coordinates national fund raising at times of overseas emergency.