United Nations Radio

UN humanitarian chief John Holmes continues to urge the Myanmar authorities to allow international relief personnel to enter areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis.

Mr. Holmes said more than 100 UN international staff are now in Myanmar, adding that nearly 40 entry visas have been granted to the UN, with an additional 46 visas going to NGOs.

But, he said, while the humanitarian workers can enter Myanmar, they are unable to reach parts of the country affected by the cyclone.

"The biggest problem we have at the moment is that international humanitarian staff are not being allowed down into the affected area outside the Yangon area. We do have hundreds of national staff and also from NGOs. These people are doing a heroic job in the circumstances. But obviously they are increasingly overstretched; their resources are not unlimited and they need the kind of expert assistance and guidance that the experienced international staff could give them."

Mr. Holmes noted Myanmar has invited neighbouring countries Thailand, Bangladesh, India and China, to send in 160 humanitarian workers, which he called "one small sign of selective opening up to international staff."

For UN Radio, I'm Dianne Penn.

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