Burma's response "far, far too short," says Ban Ki-moon

Mizzima News

Thursday, 15 May 2008 13:23

New Delhi - The United Nations on Thursday made fresh calls to Burma's military rulers to allow international aid workers to access cyclone-affected areas for greater and faster mobilization of aid. The UN also revised upward its estimate of those in need from 1.5 million to 2.5 million of people in need. In a press conference on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, "Even though the Myanmar [Burmese] Government has shown some sense of flexibility, at this time, it's far, far too short." "The magnitude of this situation requires much more mobilization of resources and aid workers," he added. Echoing Ban Ki-moon's concern, the UN's top relief official, John Holmes, said the biggest problem was the government's restrictions on international humanitarian from accessing cyclone-affected region in the Irrawaddy Delta. Holmes, under secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, called on Burmese authorities "to open up in this area as much as they can and as soon as they can, because that could make a huge difference. It's perfectly obvious, I think, to everyone that the national resources that they have are not adequate to cope with the problems." Holmes said aid is arriving in increasing quantities and that it is crucial for the government to allow access to the devastated areas. Ban Ki-moon announced that he is meeting with leaders from the Association of South-east Asian Nations, which the UN says has greater influence on Burma, to discuss concrete measures to help cyclone victims. Mr. Ban, however, said that "until now, regrettably, I think we have spent much of our time and energy in facilitating aid, getting food in, and visas being issued." Meanwhile, a report by the UN Security Council said it has been discussing, both at the expert level and in informal consultations, the humanitarian situation in Burma since Cyclone Nargis struck on May 2. The report said the Council is expected to appeal to member states to offer emergency aid and assistance. "It seems that a text is being consulted with various members of the Council and that it may appeal to member states to offer emergency aid and assistance and urge the government of Myanmar [Burma] to establish a coordinating mechanism to assist and facilitate in the delivery of aid," the report by the UNSC said. < Prev   Next >