Death toll in Myanmar may swell to 100,000

The death toll from the deadly cyclone that struck Myanmar may exceed 100,000, according to a senior U.S. diplomat on Wednesday. "The information we are receiving indicates over 100,000 deaths," said the U.S. charge d'affaires in Yangon, Shari Villarosa.

The military-run government in Myanmar (also known as Burma) has estimated the death toll at 22,000, but the U.S. official seemed to indicate that number was way too low.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is providing $3 million in initial assistance to help meet the most urgent needs of the Burmese people in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, the agency announced.

The funding brings the total USAID assistance to $3.25 million to date, which will be allocated by the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) that is currently in Bangkok awaiting permission to enter Burma, according to USAID.

The United Nations reports that it has received "specific offers of financial help" from 24 countries, along with 6 other offers of unspecified help, adding up to well over $32 million.

The international community is faced with "a major catastrophe, in particular in the Irrawaddy delta," according to John Holmes, the U.N.'s Emergency Relief Coordinator. Holmes said it was "quite likely" that the official casualty figures that had been released would continue to rise.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) has said that the most urgent needs of those affected include plastic sheeting, water purification tablets, cooking sets, mosquito nets, emergency health kits, food, and possibly fuel supplies, according to USAID.

American citizens who want to help the people of Burma are encouraged to make a cash donation to a "reputable humanitarian organization working in the disaster region," according to USAID.