By Prensa Latina,
United Nations : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon demanded the government of Myanmar to help thousands of survivors of the Nargis cyclone, because otherwise results could be fatal.
Ban requested, in a dramatic call to authorities in Yangon, the elimination of restrictions for entering in that country aid supplies and personal from humanitarian agencies because “the survival of many people is at stake”.
More than 22,500 people died and 40,000 are missing because of the strength of Nargis cyclone, which wiped out a populated rice grower region this weekend where in addition left more than a million victims, according to preliminary data.
If appropriate measures are not taken, the effects of this tragedy will be more catastrophic, Ban Ki-moon said in a declaration disclosed in this headquarters in New York.
The call of UN Secretary General happens after Myanmar authorities hold in custody a shipment of enriched cookies destined for 95,000 victims, which motivated a protest from World Food Program.
WFP, a UN humanitarian organization, decided to suspend their aid by aerial way to Yangon on Thursday in protest for the occupation of that aid by Myanmar government.
However, a WFP spokesman announced Friday in New York that the sending of humanitarian emergency aid to Myanmar will be resumed from Saturday on, while it continues to discuss with the government the distribution of the aid that authorities hold under their custody.
Meanwhile, Under-Secretary-General of UN and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Noeleen Heyzer alerted on the serious situation of hundreds of thousands of people in Myanmar, who are outdoors, without water and food.
The situation worsens and there are every time smaller probabilities to avoid diseases outbreaks that multiply the tragic number of victims, indicated Heyzer, according to a report disclosed in this headquarter.