UN says Burma continues to bar aid workers

New York (dpa) - The government of Burma has not responded to a request to waive visa requirements for international relief workers waiting for permission to bring much needed aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis, the UN said Tuesday.

The UN had asked the military junta to waive visas for relief workers assembled in nearby Bangkok so they can begin their journey to Burma, said Rachid Khalikov, an official of the UN emergency relief department at UN headquarters in New York. But the Burmese embassy in Bangkok simply closed up on Monday, because it was a Thai holiday.

"So far, there were no instructions for visas in Bangkok," Khalikov said.

In the past other countries have waived visa requirements to aid in relief efforts. For example, aid workers could provide emergency assistance to earthquake victims in Iran because that country waived visa requirements.

The devastating cyclone hit Burma over the weekend and the government there said more than 62,000 people are dead or missing. The government said more than 100,000 people needed urgent humanitarian assistance.

Khalikov said the UN headquarters in New York has had difficulties gathering information on conditions in Burma because of problems in communications with its field office in the country. UN officials had met with Burmese diplomats in New York to discuss urgent steps to assist, but they were also stymied by communication problems.
(Source-http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=127515)