Barred ships leave cyclone-hit Burma

US Navy ships laden with relief supplies steamed away from Burma’s coast today, their helicopters barred by the ruling junta even though millions of cyclone survivors need food, shelter or medical care.

The USS Essex group, which includes four ships, 22 helicopters and 5,000 US military personnel, had been off the Burmese coast for more than three weeks hoping for a green light to deliver aid to the survivors.