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Myanmar junta agrees to allow 'all' aid workers

Myanmar's government has allowed in "all" aid workers, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on Friday after a meeting with the country's junta chief.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 10:19 May 23, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Members of the Singapore Red Cross prepare to leave for Myanmar with medical aid at Singapore's Changi Airport.
  • Image Credit: Reuters

Naypyidaw: Myanmar's government has allowed in "all" aid workers, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on Friday.

The UN Secretary-General met junta supremo Than Shwe on Friday to ask him to permit more foreign aid workers to help Myanmar.

"I had a very good meeting with the Senior General and particularly on these aid workers," Ban said. "He has agreed to allow all the aid workers."

Asked by a reporter whether he considered it a breakthrough, Ban replied: "Yes, I think so. He has agreed to allow all aid workers regardless of nationalities."

The 75-year-old Senior General Shwe emerged this week from Naypyidaw, north of Yangon, to inspect the destruction and army relief effort and meet survivors of Cyclone Nargis.

Ban saw the extent of the disaster for himself on Thursday, flying in a helicopter over flooded rice fields and destroyed homes in the delta.

The official toll is nearly 134,000 people dead or missing, making Nargis one of the worst cyclones to hit Asia.

Medical teams from India, China, Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh are working in the delta along with thousands of local medics and other volunteers, state media said.

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