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Houses destroyed by cyclone Nargis in Burma's hardest-hit Irrawaddy Delta

The Burmese government is delaying efforts by aid agencies to help those affected by the cyclone, charities have warned.

Members of the Disasters Emergency Committee said they "could do more" without opposition from the military junta. Tim Costello, chief executive of World Vision Australia, said suspicion of foreign aid workers was hampering their work.

He warned of an epidemic of "apocalyptic proportions" if aid does not get through. But he urged donors to continue giving, saying the charities were making a difference.

The DEC appeal by British aid agencies and charities has raised £4 million in two days.

Mr Costello said the Burmese government did not have the capacity to run the relief effort required, adding that the impact of Cyclone Nargis could be worse than the effect of the Asian tsunami on Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

Speaking from Burma to a press conference in central London, he said: "The frustration is we know we could do more. We know what the potential is but actually we are getting to people and making a difference."

He said the affected area contains 19 million people and around two thirds of them are children.

He went on: "We certainly know that once an epidemic starts it's difficult to stop and becomes of apocalyptic proportions. The potential for this epidemic is extremely probable."

He said the relief effort faced a "race against time" to prevent diseases such as diphtheria, cholera and malaria spreading.

"The size of this is simply extraordinary and in terms of its impact much greater than the tsunami impact in Sri Lanka or Indonesia."