United Nations officials urged the Burmese government to relax—if not wave altogether—visa and custom requirements, which are preventing aid workers and humanitarian supplies from reaching the survivors of the cyclone that devastated the delta region five days ago.
At a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, John Holmes, the emergency relief coordinator of the United Nations and under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said the visa issue has been taken up at the highest level in the Burmese government.
"We would like to move much faster in terms of visas and customs clearance," Holms said. In similar situations in the past, such as the Iran and Pakistan earthquakes, some of those procedures had been waived altogether, at least in the early stages, he said, adding: "This helps a lot."
UN officials are frustrated that they have not been able to move into Burma more quickly. Even the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, issued a statement urging the junta to respond to the outpouring of international support by quickly facilitating the arrival of aid workers and clearance of relief supplies.
"The UN would like it to move much faster, both in terms of visas and in terms of rapid customs clearance of goods that were already in Myanmar in some cases, or would be arriving shortly," Holms said.
Holms said that during discussions with Burmese officials, the explanation given for the delay in issuing visas was that it was a question that needed to be decided by higher authorities.
Burma has been ruled by military generals for more than 40 years and is one of the most secretive, authoritarian and xenophobic governments in the world.
Holms said it was extremely important to get as much aid as possible, as quickly as possible, to the people who are living without safe drinking water, food and medicine, particularly in the delta area. It will be especially difficult to reach that area, because most of the roads are under water and communication with the millions of people affected by the disaster is difficult.
A small number of international staff and emergency relief workers already in Burma are attempting to move into the delta area. Normally, the military government requires international aid staff to be accompanied by Burmese minders. Holmes said that issue was also under discussion with the authorities.
UN officials said they hope to have a small assessment team in Burma on Thursday. The team was comprised of Burmese nationals who work for the UN, and they did not require visas.
Meanwhile, a UN plane in Brindisi is being loaded with relief supplies and should arrive in Burma in the next few days, Holmes said.
The World Food Programme is expected to have a plane in Burma on Thursday with 45 metric tons of high-energy biscuits.
Holms said things were starting to move in the "right direction."
Asked if the UN should invoke its "right to protect" mandate to force Burmese officials to accept international assistance, Holms said he did not think it would help.
"At this moment, to embark on this could be seen, at least by some people, as being on a confrontational path. The UN is having useful and constructive discussions with authorities and things are moving in the right direction, even though the UN wanted it to move faster," he said.
The Burmese government, as the sovereign authority, is in charge of the aid efforts, he said.
"What the UN is trying to do is to support the government's aid efforts as much as possible. The present situation is no different from any other disaster."
At a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, John Holmes, the emergency relief coordinator of the United Nations and under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said the visa issue has been taken up at the highest level in the Burmese government.
"We would like to move much faster in terms of visas and customs clearance," Holms said. In similar situations in the past, such as the Iran and Pakistan earthquakes, some of those procedures had been waived altogether, at least in the early stages, he said, adding: "This helps a lot."
UN officials are frustrated that they have not been able to move into Burma more quickly. Even the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, issued a statement urging the junta to respond to the outpouring of international support by quickly facilitating the arrival of aid workers and clearance of relief supplies.
"The UN would like it to move much faster, both in terms of visas and in terms of rapid customs clearance of goods that were already in Myanmar in some cases, or would be arriving shortly," Holms said.
Holms said that during discussions with Burmese officials, the explanation given for the delay in issuing visas was that it was a question that needed to be decided by higher authorities.
Burma has been ruled by military generals for more than 40 years and is one of the most secretive, authoritarian and xenophobic governments in the world.
Holms said it was extremely important to get as much aid as possible, as quickly as possible, to the people who are living without safe drinking water, food and medicine, particularly in the delta area. It will be especially difficult to reach that area, because most of the roads are under water and communication with the millions of people affected by the disaster is difficult.
A small number of international staff and emergency relief workers already in Burma are attempting to move into the delta area. Normally, the military government requires international aid staff to be accompanied by Burmese minders. Holmes said that issue was also under discussion with the authorities.
UN officials said they hope to have a small assessment team in Burma on Thursday. The team was comprised of Burmese nationals who work for the UN, and they did not require visas.
Meanwhile, a UN plane in Brindisi is being loaded with relief supplies and should arrive in Burma in the next few days, Holmes said.
The World Food Programme is expected to have a plane in Burma on Thursday with 45 metric tons of high-energy biscuits.
Holms said things were starting to move in the "right direction."
Asked if the UN should invoke its "right to protect" mandate to force Burmese officials to accept international assistance, Holms said he did not think it would help.
"At this moment, to embark on this could be seen, at least by some people, as being on a confrontational path. The UN is having useful and constructive discussions with authorities and things are moving in the right direction, even though the UN wanted it to move faster," he said.
The Burmese government, as the sovereign authority, is in charge of the aid efforts, he said.
"What the UN is trying to do is to support the government's aid efforts as much as possible. The present situation is no different from any other disaster."
