UN official visits Burma in attempt to hasten relief effort
Relief is urgently required for the victims of Cyclone Nargis
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Sunday, 18, May 2008 10:30
The United Nations' most senior relief official will visit Burma today in an attempt to negotiate an acceleration of the relief effort in the country.
John Holmes, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, is due to discuss how the relief effort can be intensified to help the survivors worst hit by Cyclone Nargis two weeks ago.
Millions of people have been left homeless and without any aid since the disaster, amid fears that a second catastrophe could ensue, with the risk of poor sanitation leading to the outbreak of disease.
According to the UN Children's Fund (Unicef), about one million of those affected are children, many of whom are sleeping on the streets.
Unicef spokesperson Shantha Bloemen stated: "The destruction of homes, schools, water and sanitation systems is an unrelenting threat to the child survivors,"
It is estimated that over 100,000 people were killed during the cyclone, but aid agencies have struggled to reach Burma with supplies due to restrictions imposed by the government.
There are also fears that the cyclone could have further-reaching consequences, with the Burmese people unable to produce crops for the forthcoming planting season.
Diderik De Vleeschauwer, spokesperson for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, said "time is running out”" adding: "If rice seed is not received within the next 40 to 50 days planting will not happen in time for harvesting this year."
Charity Save the Children has warned that thousands of children could die of starvation within weeks if aid does not reach them soon.