The remains of the victims of Myanmar cyclone are bloating and rotting in the sun as the military junta disrupts resources and aid, observers say.

Government officials focused part of their resources on securing their power in a constitutional referendum Saturday, leaving the presence of authorities hardly noticed in many of the hard-hit areas, The New York Times said Sunday.

Villagers told the Times the government forced them out of emergency shelters in order to use the buildings as polling places while humanitarian aid officials say only a tiny fraction of what is needed is reaching villages destroyed by the cyclone.

Government officials in Myanmar put the official death toll at around 23,000, but aid officials say that figure could climb to 100,000 if aid is not distributed soon.

Bookmark this news