Gordon Brown has today accused the military junta, which controls cyclone-hit Burma of "inhuman" treatment of thousands of survivors and warned there was a danger of turning the disaster in to a "man-made catastrophe".

Cyclone Nargis has claimed at least 78,000 lives according to official Burmese government figures, although aid agencies working on the ground believe the death toll could be as high as 128,000.

Fears are also growing that many survivors of the disaster remain without food, water and shelter almost two weeks after the cyclone hit.

Burma's military leaders have demanded they take control of the distribution of aid which has been pouring in from around the world, but much remains stock-piled, while foreign aid workers have been prevented from entering the worst-affected areas.

The United Nations has said that 2.5 million people are still without the appropriate help, which could lead to a "second catastrophe" and today Brown said forced air drops of essential supplies was still a possibility if the crisis worsens.

Despite this Burma's prime minister, Thein Sein, declared the emergency relief effort was complete and announced the start of a rebuilding programme.

Brown, speaking today on the BBC's World Service, said: “This is inhuman. We have an intolerable situation, created by a natural disaster.

“It is being made into a man-made catastrophe by the negligence, the neglect and the inhuman treatment of the Burmese people by a regime that is failing to act and to allow the international community to do what it wants to do.

“The responsibility lies with the Burmese regime and they must be held accountable.”

Brown said Britain was looking at channelling its aid to Burma through China and the countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean).

At least £6 million-worth of British assistance has already reached 350,000 Burmese people in desperate need, according to the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Foreign Office Minister Lord Malloch-Brown, who is in south-east Asia, also criticised the junta for blocking foreign assistance, saying: “We are way behind the curve compared to any other international disaster in recent memory.

“I cannot recall a relief operation where... the international response has been subjected to such delays.”

The views were backed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who said Burma was now at a “critical point”.

Times Recommends

• Please help: maimed children of war want their lives back
• Cabal seizes diamond riches to buy power
• White House gatecrashers got to the president