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Junta Leader Visits Nargis Victims as UN Envoy Arrives

Posted May 18, 08 2:48 PM CDT in World 

(Newser) – The head of Burma's junta emerged today for the first time since cyclone Nargis struck two weeks ago to meet with survivors, CNN reports. Gen. Than Shwe visited a refugee camp 200 miles south of Yangon, touching the faces of infant survivors. The visit came as the UN's humanitarian secretary began a three-day tour meant to pressure Burma to accept more foreign aid, the AP reports.

John Holmes suggested the death toll could exceed 100,000, and will be visiting the hard-hit  Irrawaddy Delta—which is predicted to receive 5 inches of rain in coming days—to assess damage. Burma will let in five more US aid flights, but the regime still hasn't given foreign workers carte blanch to reach the affected areas.

Sources CNN, Associated Press

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A survivor of cyclone Nargis prays at the Schwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, Saturday, May 17, 2008.   (Associated Press)
Children survivors of Cyclone Nargis cover their heads from the rain with empty aluminum plates.   (Associated Press)
Hundreds of children, survivors of Cyclone Nargis, cover their heads from the rain with empty aluminum plates.   (Associated Press)
A Myanmar family live in a house which was destroyed by cyclone Nargis on the outskirts of Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, May 18, 2008.   (Associated Press)
A survivor of Cyclone Nargis works on his damaged house at the outskirts of Yangon, Myanmar on Saturday May 17, 2008.   (Associated Press)
A survivor of Cyclone Nargis receives free clothing at a monastery at the outskirts of Yangon, Myanmar on Saturday May 17, 2008.   (Associated Press)
Victims of Cyclone Nargis rest inside a monastery on the outskirts of Yangon, Myanmar on Thursday, May 15, 2008.   (Associated Press)
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United Nations • Burma • Myanmar • natural disaster • Cyclone Nargis • humanitarian aid • survivors • foreign aid • humanitarian crisis • Than Shwe


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