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Ban Ki-moon to meet Burma leader Ban Ki-moon to meet Burma leader
(20 minutes later)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is to meet with Burma's military leader, Gen Than Shwe, after touring cyclone-hit areas of the country. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is in Burma's remote capital for talks with top leader Gen Than Shwe, a day after touring cyclone-hit areas of the south.
On a tour of the Irrawaddy Delta, Mr Ban flew over flooded rice fields and destroyed villages and visited a relief camp set up by the government. On Thursday, Mr Ban flew over flooded rice fields and destroyed villages and visited a government relief camp.
Mr Ban said his mission was to urge the Burma's rulers to accept more aid. The UN chief said his mission was to urge Burma's military rulers to accept far more international aid.
About 78,000 people have died and another 56,000 are missing from Cyclone Nargis which struck on 2 May. About 78,000 people have died and another 56,000 are missing from Cyclone Nargis, which struck on 2 May.
The secretary general's visit has won backing from the United States.The secretary general's visit has won backing from the United States.
"We are certainly supportive of what Ban Ki-moon is doing," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the BBC."We are certainly supportive of what Ban Ki-moon is doing," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the BBC.
"We are working through the Chinese, through the Asean countries, we are using every means to try to get in.""We are working through the Chinese, through the Asean countries, we are using every means to try to get in."
UK Foreign Secretary David Milliband told the BBC: "The tragedy is that, for some people it is already too late, and it is certainly too little compared to the needs, but we have go to use the opportunity that exists." UK Foreign Secretary David Milliband told the BBC: "The tragedy is that, for some people it is already too late, and it is certainly too little compared to the needs, but we have got to use the opportunity that exists."
"We've got to keep pushing that door open and working to ensure that those desperate people get the help that they need," he added."We've got to keep pushing that door open and working to ensure that those desperate people get the help that they need," he added.
Meanwhile, at a relief camp in the Irrawaddy Delta, Mr Ban told a woman: "I am so sorry, but don't lose your hope," . 'Very upset'
Mr Ban arrived in Burma on Thursday and visited a relief camp in the Irrawaddy Delta.
A UN official privately called it a "show camp", says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan, in Burma with the secretary general.A UN official privately called it a "show camp", says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan, in Burma with the secretary general.
Mr Ban told a woman: "I am so sorry, but don't lose your hope."
Eyewitness: 'Obliterated villages'Cyclone victims' tales seep throughIn pictures: Burma's plightEyewitness: 'Obliterated villages'Cyclone victims' tales seep throughIn pictures: Burma's plight
"The United Nations is here to help you. The whole world is trying to save Myanmar [Burma]," Mr Ban said, looking into her blue tent. "The United Nations is here to help you. The whole world is trying to save Myanmar [Burma]."
Mr Ban told reporters he was "very upset" by the devastation he had seen.Mr Ban told reporters he was "very upset" by the devastation he had seen.
"Many human lives have been lost, houses are destroyed, roads and streets are washed away, and all rice paddies flooded with water. I'm very much concerned. These farmers may lose their planting season," he said."Many human lives have been lost, houses are destroyed, roads and streets are washed away, and all rice paddies flooded with water. I'm very much concerned. These farmers may lose their planting season," he said.
But in a meeting earlier with Burma's Prime Minister Thein Sein, Mr Ban was told that the relief phase of the aid operation was over and that the government was now focusing on reconstruction, a UN official said. But earlier in the day, Burma's Prime Minister Thein Sein told Mr Ban that the relief phase of the aid operation was over and that the government was now focusing on reconstruction, a UN official said.
Mr Ban told the prime minister that the disaster was beyond Burma's ability to handle on its own and that foreign aid experts should be rushed in.Mr Ban told the prime minister that the disaster was beyond Burma's ability to handle on its own and that foreign aid experts should be rushed in.
"The United Nations and all the international community stand ready to help to overcome the tragedy," Mr Ban is quoted as saying."The United Nations and all the international community stand ready to help to overcome the tragedy," Mr Ban is quoted as saying.
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Ban Ki-Moon on the need for Burma to allow more aid inBan Ki-Moon on the need for Burma to allow more aid in
Mr Ban said relief work would have to continue for many more months. He said relief work would have to continue for many more months.
"I clearly told Prime Minister Thein Sein that aid work as well as the reconstruction and recovery should go in parallel for at least six, seven months," he told reporters.
Disease outbreaksDisease outbreaks
The UN estimates that only a quarter of the 2.5m Burmese affected by the cyclone have received the help they need.The UN estimates that only a quarter of the 2.5m Burmese affected by the cyclone have received the help they need.
The Red Cross has said that in districts further south-west of those shown to Mr Ban, waterways were still clogged with corpses and that many people had received no aid.The Red Cross has said that in districts further south-west of those shown to Mr Ban, waterways were still clogged with corpses and that many people had received no aid.
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.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.
Click here for a map of the deltaClick here for a map of the delta
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, 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, and will be used to ferry supplies to remote areas.
The government has also agreed to allow in more foreign aid workers from its Asian neighbours.The government has also agreed to allow in more foreign aid workers from its Asian neighbours.
Mr Ban is due to attend a donor conference in Burma's commercial capital, Rangoon, on Sunday.Mr Ban is due to attend a donor conference in Burma's commercial capital, Rangoon, on Sunday.
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