The death toll is now over 20 thousand and is expected to rise as more than 41 thousand people are still missing following the devastating rampage of cyclone Nargis through Burma’s fertile Irrawaddy region.

In the cities of Bogale and Patanaw more than two thirds of the buildings have been severely damaged or flattened. Debris from buildings and fallen trees are strewn throughout the streets.

The damage is far worse than first reported as the cyclone was followed by a storm surge that swept through low lying towns and villages throughout the Irrawaddy delta. People were faced with a growing surge of water with no place to escape.

Some recovery has begun as town people and monks armed with axes and saws begin to hack away at the damage.

In the capital Rangoon the airport is still closed although some flights have been reported to have landed.

As the people begin to recover there is resentment that their government did not warn them sooner of the impending storm.

Drinking water and food are scare throughout the country. The World Food Program reports that it has over 38 thousand tonnes of food stored in various cities in the country but there are no indications that they have been able to move that food into the disaster areas.

The reclusive military government has been slow to respond the humanitarian crisis. On Monday they agreed to provide visas for World Vision Australia personnel to assist World Vision staff already in the country.

The U.S. embassy in Rangoon has offered 250 thousand dollars for relief. The government has yet to respond to their offer. First Lady Laura Bush, in a press conference Monday, said that the U.S. is ready to help as soon as the Burmese government asks for assistance.

Next Saturday there is a scheduled vote on a new draft constitution. Government radio announced that the vote will be delayed until May 24 in the regions hit by the cyclone but would proceed as planned in the parts of the nation unaffected by the disaster.

“It is only a few days left before the coming referendum and people are eager to cast their vote,” a government statement said on Monday.

The lack of adequate government response to the disaster could have an effect on the vote. Government troops and police are visibly absent from the recovery process. Some people are saying that government forces are quick to respond to political protests but remain hidden in the aftermath of the storm.

Last September government troops opened fire on a pro democracy protest killing 31 people.