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UN chief vow ahead of Burma trip Ban to meet Burma's top general
(about 6 hours later)
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has promised to do his "utmost" to help cyclone victims in Burma, ahead of his visit to the military-ruled nation. United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon says Burma's top leader has agreed to meet him when he visits the cyclone-hit country later this week.
Mr Ban, due in Burma on Thursday to tour storm-hit areas, said relief work had reached a "critical moment". Mr Ban will tour devastated regions on Thursday and then fly to the remote capital, Nay Pyi Taw, for talks with General Than Shwe on Friday.
The UN says that less than a quarter of the 2.4 million people affected by Cyclone Nargis have received aid. The junta leader has until now refused to answer Mr Ban's calls and blocked large-scale international aid.
It says relief efforts must be scaled up to avoid more deaths - and wants more foreign experts to be allowed in. The UN says relief efforts must be scaled up to avoid more deaths.
The death toll from the cyclone stands at 78,000 dead, with another 56,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their homes. The death toll from Cyclone Nargis currently stands at 78,000 dead, with another 56,000 missing.
Some aid is getting in, but almost three week on from the storm, relief work is still being hampered by the Burmese government's reluctance to accept large-scale foreign help. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their homes and, almost three weeks after the storm struck, the UN says that less than a quarter of the 2.4 million people affected have received aid.
'Scaled up''Scaled up'
Ahead of his departure, Mr Ban said he wanted to see for himself the situation on the ground. Ban Ki-moon confirmed the meeting as he arrived in Thailand on his way to Burma.
I will do my utmost for the people of Myanmar (Burma) Ban Ki-moon Eyewitness: 'Obliterated villages'Cyclone victims' tales seep throughIn pictures: Burma's plightI will do my utmost for the people of Myanmar (Burma) Ban Ki-moon Eyewitness: 'Obliterated villages'Cyclone victims' tales seep throughIn pictures: Burma's plight
"I want to see the conditions under which relief teams are working, and I intend to do all I can to reinforce their efforts, in co-ordination with the Myanmar [Burma] authorities and international aid agencies," he told reporters at UN headquarters in New York. "After going to the affected areas, I will meet with senior government officials, including Senior General Than Shwe," the UN secretary-general told journalists.
He welcomed some signs of flexibility from the junta, including its decision to accept relief workers from the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). Before he left the US, Mr Ban said he would do his utmost to help the people of Burma.
He said the UN had received permission for nine World Food Programme helicopters to operate in remote areas. "I want to see the conditions under which relief teams are working, and I intend to do all I can to reinforce their efforts, in co-ordination with the Myanmar [Burma] authorities and international aid agencies," he said.
He welcomed some signs of flexibility from the junta, including its decision to accept relief workers from the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), and said the UN had received permission for nine World Food Programme helicopters to operate in remote areas.
"I believe further similar moves will follow, including expediting the visas of [foreign] relief workers seeking to enter the country," he said."I believe further similar moves will follow, including expediting the visas of [foreign] relief workers seeking to enter the country," he said.
"I'm confident that emergency relief efforts can be scaled up quickly.""I'm confident that emergency relief efforts can be scaled up quickly."
'Access needed''Access needed'
Mr Ban touches down in Thailand on Wednesday and then flies to Burma early on Thursday morning. As well as the talks in Nay Pyi Taw, Mr Ban will also attend a donor conference in Burma's commercial capital, Rangoon, on Sunday.
It is not yet clear whether he will meet Burma's top leader, Gen Than Shwe.
The UN chief will then hold talks in Bangkok before returning to Burma on Sunday for a donor conference in its commercial capital, Rangoon.
Click here for a map of the deltaClick here for a map of the delta
Some countries have welcomed the conference, which was agreed on Monday at an emergency Asean meeting in Singapore.Some countries have welcomed the conference, which was agreed on Monday at an emergency Asean meeting in Singapore.
But the US envoy to Asean, Scot Marciel, questioned its relevance.But the US envoy to Asean, Scot Marciel, questioned its relevance.
"Without an adequate and independent assessment of the situation and current needs, as well as a commitment by the regime to provide the necessary access, a pledging conference is unlikely to produce the results we seek," he told a congressional hearing."Without an adequate and independent assessment of the situation and current needs, as well as a commitment by the regime to provide the necessary access, a pledging conference is unlikely to produce the results we seek," he told a congressional hearing.
On Wednesday, Burmese state media appeared to rule out accepting aid ferried by US navy ships and helicopters off its coast, saying it would come "with strings attached".On Wednesday, Burmese state media appeared to rule out accepting aid ferried by US navy ships and helicopters off its coast, saying it would come "with strings attached".
But Mr Marciel said the junta was clearly not capable of managing the logistics for such a massive relief effort.But Mr Marciel said the junta was clearly not capable of managing the logistics for such a massive relief effort.
"The situation on the ground is increasingly desperate and the regime's failure to provide greater access to the international community to the affected area is putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk." "The situation on the ground is increasingly desperate, and the regime's failure to provide greater access to the international community to the affected area is putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk."
The UN says that tens of thousands of people are living in more than 200 temporary camps across the region.The UN says that tens of thousands of people are living in more than 200 temporary camps across the region.
Health centres and schools have been wiped out and while food aid is getting in, it has still not reached some of the remotest areas.Health centres and schools have been wiped out and while food aid is getting in, it has still not reached some of the remotest areas.
Three days of mourning are currently under way in Burma for the cyclone victims.Three days of mourning are currently under way in Burma for the cyclone victims.
Are you in Burma? Have you been affected by the cyclone? Are you involved in the relief effort? Tell us about your experience using the form below:Are you in Burma? Have you been affected by the cyclone? Are you involved in the relief effort? Tell us about your experience using the form below:
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