And further hampered by a few points:

• The unwillingness of the military junta to ask "enemies" for help.

• The abject poverty created by the junta's leadership, as well as general distrust of the people for the regime due to years of brutal rule.

• The continued denial of visas to foreign media.

According to Burmese media in exile, the death toll cited by the government -- 22,000, as of this writing -- is being knocked down by many pegs.

The regime is also saying currently that up to 41,000 people are missing.

The latest updates:

• Burma's opposition, the National League for Democracy, called plans by the junta to go ahead with a constitutional referendum on Saturday (with a two-week buffer for those areas hardest hit by the cyclone) "unacceptable," and criticized the government for not aiding storm victims four days after the disaster.

• The U.S. has offered $3.25 million, and has ships standing by off Thailand waiting to help try to find survivors and provide humanitarian relief, but the junta seems loathe to admit America or other aid agencies.

• The European Union donated two million euros amid concerns that it would actually get to the people who need it most.

• Even U.N. aid workers have had their visas delayed by the junta.

Meanwhile, as CNN reports after getting a correspondent into the country, survivors are getting desperate and chucking bodies -- those that aren't pinned under trees -- into rivers.