FACTBOX: Myanmar pledges pour in, U.N. appeals for $187 mln

(Reuters) - Australia dramatically increased its aid contribution to the cyclone victims of Myanmar to $23.4 million on Sunday as disaster relief experts said thousands more would die if emergency supplies did not reach them.

The United Nations has appealed for $187 million in aid to assist about 1.5 million people who need food, shelter and clean water, especially in the inundated Irrawaddy delta.

Within hours of the appeal, $77 million was pledged, U.N. officials said.

The rice-growing region was hardest hit on May 2 by Cyclone Nargis, whose 190 kph (120 mph) winds churned up huge waves that killed most of the 23,000 known to be dead and tens of thousands still missing.

Myanmar's military government has asked for aid from home and abroad and accepted it, but dragged its feet on allowing more foreign experts into the country, preferring to handle most of the distribution on its own.

The following includes some of the aid offers to date:

NGO/IGO CONTRIBUTIONS

UNITED NATIONS: The "flash appeal" to raise $187 million with an estimated $56 million for food, $50 million for logistics, $20 million for shelter and the rest for other needs.

U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination team in Bangkok. UNICEF assessment teams in some of the disaster areas. World Food Programme has landed seven flights of supplies, loaded them onto trucks to be driven to the delta.

RED CROSS: About 200,000 Swiss francs ($189,000).

-- Myanmar Red Cross: Distributing insecticide-treated bed nets and water purification tablets. Government to give 5 billion kyats ($4.5 million) for relief and resettlement.

-- American Red Cross: $100,000 in funds and supplies.

WORLD VISION, AUSTRALIA: A$3 million ($2.8 million). About 25 medical/other specialists to boost 600 permanent staff in Myanmar.

STATE CONTRIBUTIONS

FRANCE: 200,000 euros (about $320,000) in aid. France has sent a naval ship with 1,500 tonnes of food, blankets and other supplies.

SPAIN: 500,000 euros (about $775,000) to World Food Programme.