The disaster unfolding in Myanmar (Burma) as a result of cyclone Nargis is far worse than anyone had anticipated - torrential rains, flooding and gale force winds have killed thousands and made thousands more homeless. ActionAid is working with partners in Myanmar to reach some of the most vulnerable people.

The UN now believes it is likely that over 100,000 people have died in the cyclone and that millions more are homeless and extremely vulnerable. With the serious threat of an outbreak of diarrhea, malaria, dengue, particularly among children and women, urgent help is needed to stop the death toll rising even further.

Roger Yates, head of emergencies for ActionAid, said: "They are desperately searching for the basics to stay alive, food and shelter.

"The most important thing at the moment is clean water and controlling sanitation because if you get a disease outbreak now then you have got a much bigger problem."

The cyclone has destroyed thousands of buildings, power lines, trees, roads and blocked the water supply to large parts of the population. Houses along the coast have been reduced to skeletal structures and 16 villages have been virtually wiped out. Tens of thousands of people are still missing.

Cyclone survivor Teddy Din, who is the ex director of ActionAid partner ADRA Myanmar, spoke to the ActionAid programme coordinator for Myanmar, Shihab Uddin, about his experience.

To survive, Teddy said they ate and drank coconut juice, as at most places there is no drinking water. They also found some rice and shared it around and ate fresh flesh from dead animals (cows, buffalos), but now they can’t eat them anymore.

Teddy buried 22 people near a Baptist church, where people were searching refuge, but the church collapsed on top of them.

Teddy was brought to safety in Yangon by field staff after the survivors were given food, water and clothing.