Aldwick diplomat helping out Burmese cyclone victims

Mark Canning told the Observer that the military dictatorship was prepared to let its people die after devastating Cyclone Nargis struck the Irrawaddy delta a month ago.

"The picture at the moment is that we are taking two steps forward and one step back," he stated.

"We are managing to get supplies into the delta and there are relief workers there but only a very small percentage of people in need have actually been reached.

"I see Burmese ministers regularly and have fairly tough conversations with them to persuade them to open up the area. All we are asking is that they allow us to save the lives of their people.

"This is an extraordinary situation where we want to alleviate the suffering of their people.

"But they are a hardline and xenophobic government with an utter disregard for the welfare of their own people."

Mr Canning (53) moved to Barrack Lane in Aldwick with his parents in 1959. He was educated at the former Etonhurst school in west Bognor and at Avisford school in Walberton.

His mother and sister still live in Aldwick and he has kept a boat at the West End boat pound, opposite West Park, for more than 30 years.

He moved on to Downside School and London University. Joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1974, he has represented Britain around the world. His career has focused on SE Asia in recent years.

Mr Canning was appointed the British Ambassador in Rangoon in July 2006 after four years in Indonesia and four years in Malaysia in various positions.

But the events of the past month have seen him call upon all his diplomatic experience. "It's been pretty intense," he said speaking from Rangoon last Friday. "Until last Sunday, my shortest working day for four weeks was 16 hours."

Cyclone Nargis struck on May 2 , wiping out entire communities.

The Red Cross has estimated some 128,000 people died as a result of the natural catastrophe. UN estimates put the number of survivors in need of help as 1.5 to 2m. Mr Canning's hard work has put Britain at the forefront of the international efforts to help the Burmese cyclone victims.

Mr Canning spoke proudly of the 11 flights of aid arriving in Burma this week. Britain has donated $35m of help to put it at the top of the league table of donations.

He has also hosted visits by Douglas Alexander, the British minister for international development, who was joined by the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, in urging the Burmese government to do more.

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