Oxfam: 1.5 million Burmese in danger

The lives of up to 1.5 million Burmese cyclone victims are in danger from diseases if clean water and sanitation are not provided soon, Oxfam warned today.

The charity’s regional chief, Sarah Ireland, said “there are all the factors” for a public health catastrophe.

The death toll from the May 3 cyclone is likely to be 100,000, she said, and that number could eventually multiply by 15 times.

She told reporters today: “We are afraid there is a real risk of a massive public catastrophe waiting to happen in Myanmar (Burma). It is a perfect storm, if you will.”