Here is a country with a population comparable with our own and one that once formed an integral part of the British Empire.

When it achieved independence in 1948, Burma appeared to have a prosperous future.

The rich waters of the Irrawaddy, abundant in food and a source of the nation's rice crops meant it was largely self-sufficient.

Now it is reduced to one of the poorest in the whole of Asia after decades of sadistic rule by military juntas.

Anyone who ever doubted this, needed only watch the way in which last year's protest by Bhuddist monks was quelled.

Images of this nationwide oppression sneaked out of a country for a disbelieving world to see.

Now Burma has been hit by a power far greater than its leaders.

Cyclone Nargis is thought to have killed 10,000. That figure may double.

As many as a million Burmese are stuck in the middle of a humanitarian disaster of potentially epic proportions.

For the culling winds which swept like a scythe across the country also struck in the heart of Burma's rice bowl.

Without food and water people will soon start to die.

Burma's leaders claim they are steering the country towards partial-democracy by 2010. There are many reasons to remain sceptical about this.

The Red Cross and sundry international aid organisations are now waiting for the nod to bring aid to Burma's stricken population.

The perfect opportunity for the country's leaders to show they mean business.

But it is unlikely anyone will be given carte blanche to travel freely to the areas that need it most.

This should not however stop us from giving, should we be asked.

Distribution will no doubt be carried out by Burma's military and even if, as many believe, only a fraction gets through, it will be better than nothing.