UN: Myanmar gives green light for aid; workers await visas
GENEVA (AP) — Myanmar's military regime has signaled it will welcome aid supplies for victims of a devastating cyclone, the U.N. said Tuesday, clearing the way for a major relief operation from international organizations.
But U.N. workers were still awaiting their visas to enter the country, said Elisabeth Byrs of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Myanmar's ruling junta, which has spurned the international community for decades, has urgently appealed for foreign aid in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. The death toll continued to climb and a U.N. agency says as many as 1 million people have been left homeless since the powerful cyclone hit the Southeast Asian country on Saturday.
"The government of Myanmar has indicated that they are open to international assistance," the United Nations' emergency relief coordinator John Holmes said in a statement Tuesday.
Byrs said a U.N. disaster assessment team was ready to join U.N. officials already in Myanmar, also known as Burma, as soon as they receive visas.
"The government has shown a certain openness so far," Byrs said. "We hope that we will get the visas as soon as possible, in the coming hours. I think the authorities have understood the seriousness of the situation and that they will act accordingly."
The U.N. warned that obtaining information on the impact of the storm has been a major challenge because of the lack of communication. It said roads have been blocked and telephone lines cut.
"The U.N. country team in Myanmar reports that urgent needs for those affected by this crisis include shelter, water purification tablets, cooking sets, mosquito nets, emergency health kits and food," said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Australia's foreign minister stressed Tuesday that the international community should focus on aid to Myanmar instead of criticizing the junta's handling of the deadly cyclone.
Stephen Smith's comments came a day after first lady Laura Bush rebuked Myanmar's authoritarian junta for not warning citizens about the cyclone.
"I just don't think we're in a position to make that sort of judgment now given the difficulties of communication. And also, frankly, it's not, in my mind, the priority. The priority now is rendering assistance to thousands of displaced people who urgently need our assistance," Smith told reporters after giving a speech in Hong Kong.
Smith said Australia was "ready, willing and able" to offer humanitarian assistance to Myanmar and will most likely start with a financial donation. He didn't give an amount.
The first lady said Monday the U.S. was ready to pump more aid into Myanmar but said help was conditional on a U.S. disaster response team being allowed into the country. The U.S. Embassy in Myanmar was already providing $250,000 from an emergency fund, she said.
Several other country have also announced initial aid contributions. On Tuesday, Singapore said it would provide $200,000 in humanitarian aid, and Chinese President Hu Jintao also pledged assistance to Myanmar, the official Chinese Xinhua News Agency reported.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations also has started mobilizing assistance and resources for Myanmar, a member country, through its humanitarian assistance coordinating center.
On Monday, the European Union said it was providing $3 million in urgent humanitarian aid for cyclone victims.
Associated Press writer Min Lee in Hong Kong contributed to this report.
