YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s military regime, which has barred almost all foreigners from its cyclone disaster zone, allowed the U.N. humanitarian chief into the Irrawaddy delta for a brief tour today, a U.N. official said.
John Holmes, undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, flew by helicopter into an area where hundreds of thousands are suffering from hunger, disease and lack of shelter.
The U.N. official, who requested anonymity since he was not authorized to speak with the media, said that after a few hours in the delta, Holmes would return to Yangon to meet with international aid agencies.
In what appeared to be a thaw in the junta’s dealings with the United Nations, the government also gave permission for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to travel to the delta after his arrival Wednesday, U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said in New York.
At least 78,000 people were killed in the May 2-3 storm, and another 56,000 are missing. Aid agencies say about 2.5 million survivors are in desperate need of help — food, shelter from intermittent monsoon rains, medicines, clean drinking water and sanitation.
British Foreign Office Minister Lord Malloch- Brown told the British Broadcasting Corp. he believes the rulers of Myanmar — also known as Burma — may soon relent on allowing military ships to join in the relief effort, especially if Asian go-betweens are involved.
“I think you’re going to see quite dramatic steps by the Burmese to open up,” he said.
But Myanmar’s leaders, angered by criticism of their handling of the crisis, stepped up their rhetoric Sunday amid warnings by Save the Children that thousands of children face starvation.
Junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe made his first visit to a refugee camp Sunday, patting the heads of babies and shaking hands with cyclone survivors, amid growing international criticism over the government’s handling of the crisis.
Myanmar’s state-run media lashed out at critics, detailing the regime’s response. State television featured footage of the junta leader inspecting supplies and comforting victims in relatively clean and neat rows of blue tents.
Some survivors clasped their hands and bowed as he and a column of military leaders walked past.
In the city of Laputta, hundreds of children covered their heads from the rain with empty aluminum plates as they lined up in front of a private donation center. They were given rice, a spoonful of curry and a potato.
“Children only. Please. Children only,” shouted a man who pushed back a crowd of adults.
