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UN head tours cyclone-hit Burma UN head tours cyclone-hit Burma
(about 2 hours later)
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in cyclone-hit Burma to tour the devastated Irrawaddy Delta and meet military ruler Gen Than Shwe.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in cyclone-hit Burma to tour the devastated Irrawaddy Delta and meet military ruler Gen Than Shwe.
Mr Ban said he had "a message of hope" for cyclone victims. Mr Ban hopes to persuade the government to accept more aid for cyclone victims.
Burma's rulers have blocked large-scale international aid, and foreign agencies say they are delivering just 30% of what they would like to give. Burma's rulers have blocked large-scale international assistance, and foreign agencies say they are delivering just 30% of what they would like to give.
A BBC reporter in Burma says people are extremely angry about the way the government has dealt with the disaster.A BBC reporter in Burma says people are extremely angry about the way the government has dealt with the disaster.
'Critical moment' Speaking shortly after his arrival, Mr Ban said aid needed to be delivered more effectively, but stressed that his chief reason for visiting was to demonstrate solidarity.
'Message of hope'
The death toll from Cyclone Nargis currently stands at 78,000 dead, with another 56,000 missing.The death toll from Cyclone Nargis currently stands at 78,000 dead, with another 56,000 missing.
Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their homes and the UN says that fewer than a quarter of the 2.4 million people affected have received aid.Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their homes and the UN says that fewer than a quarter of the 2.4 million people affected have received aid.
Eyewitness: 'Obliterated villages'Cyclone victims' tales seep throughIn pictures: Burma's plightEyewitness: 'Obliterated villages'Cyclone victims' tales seep throughIn pictures: Burma's plight
The generals have agreed that some UN helicopters can join the aid effort, but British, French and American naval vessels are still standing by off the Irrawaddy Delta, having been refused access to the area.The generals have agreed that some UN helicopters can join the aid effort, but British, French and American naval vessels are still standing by off the Irrawaddy Delta, having been refused access to the area.
Mr Ban's visit to Burma is aimed at persuading the military government to accept more foreign help. The first of 10 helicopters to be sent by the UN's World Food Programme arrived in Burma on Thursday, the AFP news agency reports, and will be used to ferry supplies to remote areas.
"I bring a message of hope for the people of Myanmar [Burma]," Mr Ban said, after making an offering for the cyclone victims at the Shwedagon Pagoda, the holiest Buddhist shrine in Burma. Mr Ban addressed officials, including Foreign Minister Nyan Win, after making an offering for the cyclone victims at the Shwedagon Pagoda, the holiest Buddhist shrine in Burma.
"I hope your people and government can co-ordinate the flow of aid so the aid work can be done in a more systematic and organised way," he is reported to have told local officials. "I bring a message of hope for the people of Myanmar [Burma]," Mr Ban said.
Mr Ban also held a short meeting with Prime Minister Thein Sein, and is due to tour the devastated Irrawaddy Delta region later on Thursday. "I hope your people and government can co-ordinate the flow of aid so the aid work can be done in a more systematic and organised way."
He will then fly to the remote capital, Nay Pyi Daw, for talks with Burma's leader, Than Shwe, on Friday. Mr Ban also held a short meeting with Prime Minister Thein Sein, and is due to tour the Irrawaddy Delta region later on Thursday.
He will then fly to the nation's remote capital, Nay Pyi Daw, for talks on Friday with Burma's leader, Than Shwe. He has previously been unwilling to speak to the UN head.
Mr Ban will also attend a donor conference in Burma's commercial capital, Rangoon, on Sunday.Mr Ban will also attend a donor conference in Burma's commercial capital, Rangoon, on Sunday.
Pressure on generals Advertisement
His visit follows that of the UN humanitarian co-ordinator John Holmes. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon arriving in Yangon
Mr Holmes has described his negotiations with the Burmese government as painful and frustrating. Mr Ban's visit follows that of the UN humanitarian co-ordinator John Holmes.
He also said he was very worried about the lack of reliable information from the disaster zone, and that he could still not be sure how many survivors were waiting to be reached. Mr Holmes has described his negotiations with the Burmese government as painful and frustrating, and said a lot was riding on Mr Ban's meeting with the Burmese leadership.
He could still not be sure how many survivors were waiting to be reached, Mr Holmes added.
Click here for a map of the deltaClick here for a map of the delta
He added that a lot was riding on the meeting between Mr Ban and the Burmese leadership.
There are signs that the generals are feeling pressure to do more for their people, says a BBC correspondent in Burma who cannot be named for security reasons.There are signs that the generals are feeling pressure to do more for their people, says a BBC correspondent in Burma who cannot be named for security reasons.
World Food Programme (WFP) officials said the military had agreed to allow the UN agency to use 10 helicopters to deliver aid. As well as allowing WFP helicopters to deliver aid, the government has agreed to allow in more foreign aid workers from its neighbours in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
But the helicopters have to be chartered, flown to Bangkok and assembled before they can be put into operation. Burma has been heavily criticised for the slowness and inefficiency of its response to the cyclone and its reluctance to accept international offers of help.
The government also agreed to allow more foreign aid workers in - from its neighbours in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In a sign of frustrations being felt within Burma, some students have threatened strikes and protests if more help is not accepted from wherever it is offered, says our correspondent.
Burma has been criticised for the slowness and inefficiency of its response to the cyclone and its reluctance to accept international offers of help. "The young people, all of the people, they are very angry," one student told our correspondent.
There are signs that people in Burma are angry with their government. Another man told him: "Whether the military government gives permission or not, we want the US and French to help us."
Some students have threatened strikes and protests if more help is not accepted from wherever it is offered, says our correspondent.
One man told him: "Whether the military government gives permission or not, we want the US and French to help us."
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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