More than 6,000 Indian villagers have been forced from their homes and a number killed by Cyclone Thane, Christian Aid reports today.

While the world looks elsewhere, the humanitarian and political problems in Burma continue. But global church and development agencies are continuing to work on the short- and long-term development issues facing the country.

Burmese cyclone survivors face a massive crisis unless they are urgently delivered aid, leading aid agencies have warned - while Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on Burma's generals to ease restrictions on outside assistance.

Development agencies and United Nations officials are exasperated at the obstructiveness of the Burmese junta toward an international aid effort aimed at bringing desperately needed supplies to victims of the recent cyclone.