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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 hopes to persuade the government to accept more aid 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 assistance, and foreign agencies say they are delivering just 30% of what they would like to give. UN officials say Burma's PM Thein Sein told Mr Ban the relief phase was ending and reconstruction would now begin.
A BBC reporter in Burma says people are extremely angry about the way the government has dealt with the disaster. But a BBC correspondent travelling with Mr Ban says the UN secretary general is in Burma to say more people need to be helped by international aid workers.
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. Mr Ban was flown by helicopter to a tidy camp with very few people in it and brand new tents, some of which were empty.
'Message of hope' He denied his visit being used by the junta to give a misleading picture of the crisis in the country, which is also known as Myanmar.
The death toll from Cyclone Nargis currently stands at 78,000 dead, with another 56,000 missing. He said: "I say now what I have said before: issues of assistance and aid in Myanmar should not be politicised. Our focus now is on saving lives."
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. 'Drinking from puddles'
Our correspondent Laura Trevelyan says Mr Ban is concerned that aid is only reaching a quarter of those in need.
Eyewitness: 'Obliterated villages'Cyclone victims' tales seep throughIn pictures: Burma's plightEyewitness: 'Obliterated villages'Cyclone victims' tales seep throughIn pictures: Burma's plight
One foreign doctor told the BBC many were drinking water from puddles, while children and old people were suffering from dysentery, dengue fever and dehydration.
Burma's rulers have blocked large-scale international assistance since Cyclone Nargis struck on 2 May, leaving 78,000 dead and 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.
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.
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.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.
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 bring a message of hope for the people of Myanmar [Burma]," Mr Ban said.
"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."
Mr Ban also held a short meeting with Prime Minister Thein Sein and signed a book of condolences at the foreign ministry, before boarding a helicopter to take him to the Irrawaddy Delta region.
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UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon arriving in YangonUN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon arriving in Yangon
Before heading to the delta region, Mr Ban told officials in Rangoon he had brought a "message of hope".
He made an offering for cyclone victims at the Shwedagon Pagoda, the holiest Buddhist shrine in Burma.
The secretary general also held a short meeting with the prime minister and signed a book of condolences.
On Friday, Mr Ban will fly to the nation's remote capital, Nay Pyi Daw, for talks with Burma's leader, Than Shwe. He has previously been unwilling to speak to the UN head.On Friday, Mr Ban will fly to the nation's remote capital, Nay Pyi Daw, for talks 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.
His visit follows that of the UN humanitarian co-ordinator John Holmes.His visit follows that of the UN humanitarian co-ordinator John Holmes.
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.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.
Click here for a map of the deltaClick here for a map of the delta
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda added his voice on Thursday to the chorus of calls for Burma's leaders to accept foreign help.Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda added his voice on Thursday to the chorus of calls for Burma's leaders to accept foreign help.
"I strongly hope that... Myanmar [Burma] will accept openly the international community's goodwill and engage in disaster relief and reconstruction in partnership with the international community," he said, quoted by AFP."I strongly hope that... Myanmar [Burma] will accept openly the international community's goodwill and engage in disaster relief and reconstruction in partnership with the international community," he said, quoted by AFP.
Meanwhile, members of the European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling for Burma's military leaders to be brought before an international court in The Hague "if they continue to prevent aid from reaching those in danger".Meanwhile, members of the European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling for Burma's military leaders to be brought before an international court in The Hague "if they continue to prevent aid from reaching those in danger".
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.
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. As well as allowing World Food Programme 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.
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.
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.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.
"The young people, all of the people, they are very angry," one student told our correspondent. Another man told our correspondent: "Whether the military government gives permission or not, we want the US and French to help us."
Another 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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