Aid groups said Sunday that supplies trickling into cyclone-hit Myanmar fell short of the enormous need, as the faltering relief effort suffered a new blow with the sinking of a Red Cross boat. The boat, carrying vital supplies of drinking water, rice, water and tablets, hit a submerged tree trunk as it travelled by river through the disaster zone. Much of the aid was lost, but no one was injured. “Apart from the delay in getting aid to people we may now have to re-evaluate how we transport that aid,” said Michael Annear, disaster manager in Yangon for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Supplies have begun to slowly make their way into isolated Myanmar, but relief workers remain frustrated over restrictions by the ruling junta, which has refused to allow foreign experts in to direct the recovery effort. “A serious response is more than required. We still need more back-up aid and personnel ready to leave,” said Stephan Goetghebuer, director of operations of medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). Meanwhile, Myanmar' s state television said Sunday the death toll in last week's cyclone has jumped by about 5,000 to 28,458. It said the number of missing now stands at 33,416.
