A dozen refugees from Myanmar attend Raleigh's Christ Covenant Church, and many are desperate to learn more about the devastating cyclone that struck the country nearly a week ago.

But the Rev. John Luther said those refugees are having a hard time tracking information, and the church is not sure how it can help.

"If things open up, I'm sure we'll give," said Luther, referring to the military's recalcitrance in opening its borders to international humanitarian aid. "But at this point, we're not doing anything."

About 1.5 million people in Myanmar are thought to be facing the threat of starvation and disease, but military rulers have approved few visas for aid workers.

That hasn't stopped humanitarian aid groups from trying. Samaritan's Purse, the relief organization based in Boone headed by the Rev. Franklin Graham, has three staff people in the country. They had visas before the cyclone hit last week, and the organization is now trying to figure out how to get more aid workers and supplies into the country.

Samaritan's Purse wants to fly in water purification equipment, plastic sheeting and mosquito nets, said Ken Isaacs, vice president of programs and government relations at Samaritan's Purse.

"We don't know what kind of access we'll get and what we can do," said Isaacs. In the meantime, Graham -- the son of the Rev. Billy Graham -- has issued an emergency appeal to donors.

Raleigh's Stop Hunger Now is facing similar challenges. The relief organization typically partners with bigger relief groups, but those are scrambling to negotiate visas and work through logistics.

At least 1,000 refugees from Myanmar were living in North Carolina as of November, according to the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Lutheran Family Services, which helps find homes for many of those families, estimates that at least 700 refugees live in the Triangle alone. The numbers change constantly. This month, seven new families are expected to arrive in the Triangle, said Brianne Casey of Lutheran Family Services.

Kaw Htoo, a 42-year-old refugee who settled in Raleigh nearly a year ago, said his family back home lives in rural areas where there are no telephones. He assumes they're better off than those living closer to the ocean, but he has no way of knowing for sure.

"We watch the television and listen to the BBC," he said. "We feel helpless."