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Visiting UN Chief Pushes Burma to Accept Aid

Junta refuses US supplies waiting nearby

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted May 22, 2008 7:07 AM CDT
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(Newser) – UN chief Ban Ki-Moon witnessed cyclone damage in Burma today, on a trip to bring the devastated country a “message of hope” and push the junta to allow international aid for the millions left destitute, Reuters reports. “I'm quite confident we will be able to overcome this tragedy,” he said. But his work to open the doors to relief looks to be an uphill battle, the New York Times notes.

Burma’s official newspaper said yesterday that it wouldn’t accept supplies offered by American ships stationed outside its waters, saying there were “strings attached.” “We can manage by ourselves,” the paper said. But Ban is scheduled to meet the junta’s head, who had previously ignored his calls, as well as would-be international donors. The UN estimates 100,000 have died since the May 3 cyclone; Ban said relief teams have reached only a quarter of those in need.

Burma cyclone survivors work to repair their house which was destroyed by Cyclone Nargis, on the outskirts of Rangoon, Burma, Thursday, May 22, 2008.
Burma cyclone survivors work to repair their house which was destroyed by Cyclone Nargis, on the outskirts of Rangoon, Burma, Thursday, May 22, 2008.   (AP Photo)
In this photo released by UNICEF, children survivors of Cyclone Nargis are pictured at a shelter in Dalah township near Rangoon, Burma, Wednesday, May 21, 2008.
In this photo released by UNICEF, children survivors of Cyclone Nargis are pictured at a shelter in Dalah township near Rangoon, Burma, Wednesday, May 21, 2008.   (AP Photo/UNICEF, HO)
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, center, tours the Shwedagon pagoda before meeting with Prime Minister Thein Sein and viewing the cyclone hit Irrawaddy delta, on Thursday in Rangoon, Burma.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, center, tours the Shwedagon pagoda before meeting with Prime Minister Thein Sein and viewing the cyclone hit Irrawaddy delta, on Thursday in Rangoon, Burma.   (AP Photo/Stan Honda, Pool)
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon tours the Shwedagon pagoda shortly after his arrival in Rangoon, Burma, Thursday, May 22, 2008.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon tours the Shwedagon pagoda shortly after his arrival in Rangoon, Burma, Thursday, May 22, 2008.   (AP Photo)
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, left, talks with Burma's Foreign Minister Nyan Win during their meeting in Rangoon, Thursday, May 22, 2008.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, left, talks with Burma's Foreign Minister Nyan Win during their meeting in Rangoon, Thursday, May 22, 2008.   (AP Photo)
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More on Ban's visit
AFP

Burma rejects US ships' supplies
Wall Street Journal

 
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