Local charity worker in cyclone-hit Burma

1:31pm Saturday 10th May 2008

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A HEREFORD charity worker will help the relief operation in Burma.

Many life-saving aid teams are still waiting for permission to enter the flood-ravaged country to help victims of the cyclone.

But one aid worker from Hereford-based Operation Blessing, a Christian aid organisation, touched down in Burma two hours ago after managing to secure a visa.

The organisation has not named the man but administrator Peter Darg confirmed he was a former pupil of Hereford Cathedral School and would be providing medical aid to the victims and help to supply them with food and water.

Sources inside Burma have estimated that the death toll could be higher than 100,000 but there are fears that starvation and disease push it up to 500,000 in the coming weeks.

It is now a week since the 120mph winds of Cyclone Nargis swept huge waves inland.

A United Nations official has already critcised the red tape delays which have prevented humanitarians from entering the country.

Operation Blessing International (OBI) was formed in 1978 to help alleviate human suffering around the world.