The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has become the first international agency to be allowed to treat tsunami victims in India in spite of a refusal by New Delhi to accept foreign humanitarian relief.

UN doctors were flown to one of the worst-hit islands of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in the Bay of Bengal last Wednesday, nearly two weeks after the tragedy, as the islands' political leadership continued to insist on restrictions on foreign aid groups.