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Burma Agrees to Accept All Aid

Junta drops opposition to aid workers entering country

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted May 23, 2008 5:34 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Burma has agreed to let international disaster relief workers into the country to help with the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, Bloomberg reports. The junta's about-face came after  UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who flew in yesterday, met the nation's  reclusive military leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe. The UN hopes to ramp up operations in the Irrawaddy Delta, where over a million cyclone survivors are thought to be in urgent need of assistance.

"He has agreed to allow all aid workers regardless of nationalities," Ban said after the talks. "He has taken quite a flexible position on the matter."

In this photo released by UNICEF, Myanmar children are shown near cyclone Nargis storm damage Sunday, May 18, 2008, near Dedaye township in the Irrawaddy delta of Myanmar.
In this photo released by UNICEF, Myanmar children are shown near cyclone Nargis storm damage Sunday, May 18, 2008, near Dedaye township in the Irrawaddy delta of Myanmar.   (AP Photo/UNICEF, HO)
A camp for persons displaced by Cyclone Nargis is seen Thursday, May 22, 2008 in an aerial view in the Irrawaddy delta region, Myanmar.
A camp for persons displaced by Cyclone Nargis is seen Thursday, May 22, 2008 in an aerial view in the Irrawaddy delta region, Myanmar.   (AP Photo/United Nations, Evan Schneider)
A village damaged by Cyclone Nargis is seen Thursday, May 22, 2008 in an aerial view over the Irrawaddy delta, Myanmar from the helicopter carrying United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
A village damaged by Cyclone Nargis is seen Thursday, May 22, 2008 in an aerial view over the Irrawaddy delta, Myanmar from the helicopter carrying United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.   (AP Photo/United Nations, Evan Schneider)
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, meets with Myanmar Senior Gen. Than Shwe, right, on Friday May 23, 2008 in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, meets with Myanmar Senior Gen. Than Shwe, right, on Friday May 23, 2008 in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.   (AP Photo/Stan HONDA, POOL)
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, poses with Myanmar Senior Gen. Than Shwe, right, on Friday May 23, 2008 in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, poses with Myanmar Senior Gen. Than Shwe, right, on Friday May 23, 2008 in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.   (AP Photo/Stan HONDA, POOL)
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Breakthrough came after hours of talks with top general
Times (UK)

Ban tours devastated region
Reuters

Shwe accepts aid, 3 weeks after cyclone
Bangkok Post (Thailand)

 
cyclone • relief • aid workers • Myanmar • Burma • Than Shwe • military junta • disaster zones • Cyclone Nargis • Irrawaddy Delta • Ban Ki-moon

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