The damage might have been made worse due to the loss of mangroves - I think New Orleans suffered a similar fate due to the loss of marshland. Time and again habitat destruction threatens the poorest people.

From the BBC:

ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said coastal developments had resulted in mangroves, which act as a natural defence against storms, being lost.

At least 22,000 people have died in the disaster, say state officials.

A study of the 2004 Asian tsunami found that areas near healthy mangroves suffered less damage and fewer deaths.

Mr Surin, speaking at a high-level meeting of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore, said the combination of more people living in coastal areas and the loss of mangroves had exacerbated the tragedy.

Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7385315.stm

And one reason why so little has been given is that the Burmese government insists on distributing it themselves, and the west doesn't really trust them. Same goes for aircraft, Burma might not even let them in.  Let's hope political problems don't get in the way here, but it seems like they will.