Douglas Alexander travels to Burma for cyclone talks
Douglas Alexander travels to Burma for cyclone talks
Saturday, 24, May 2008 12:00
The international development secretary Douglas Alexander has travelled to Burma for discussions on how to best help victims of Cyclone Nargis.
Mr Alexander is to first meet United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon in the Thai capital Bangkok ahead of an international conference in Rangoon, Burma, on Sunday.
Around 78,000 people were killed by the cyclone on May 2nd while a further 56,000 remain missing.
Burma's military rulers had been strongly criticised by the international community for their slow response to the disaster and the restrictions placed on foreign aid workers.
The Burmese military junta, deeply suspicious of the outside world, had placed strict bars on the number of foreign aid workers arriving in Burma but is since believed to have relented after lengthy talks with Burmese leader General Than Shwe in the remote jungle capital of Naypyidaw.
"[Gen Shwe] has agreed to allow all aid workers," Mr Ban said on Friday.
"I had a very good meeting with the senior general, and particularly on these aid workers.
"He's taken quite a flexible position on this matter."
According to the UN, some 2.4 million people were affected by the cyclone, with aid yet to reach 25 per cent of survivors.