Myanmar asks UN to help relieve cyclone disaster

Source: Xinhua | 05-06-2008 09:19

UNITED NATIONS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar asked the United Nations on Monday for urgent assistance to help it deal with the disastrous consequences caused by Cyclone Nargis.

A UN statement issued Monday said UN chief Ban Ki-moon's Chef de Cabinet Vijay Nambiar met earlier in the day with Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Tint Swe on how the world body can help Myanmar.

Swe "confirmed the government's request for assistance to meet the needs of the victims of Cyclone Nargis, emphasizing especially the need to receive relief materials immediately," it said.

"They discussed the possibility of urgent CERF (Central Emergency Response Fund) grant allocations as well as communications and coordination support to facilitate the delivery of assistance," it added.

Earlier, Ban pledged in a statement that the United Nations "will do whatever it can do to provide urgent humanitarian assistance."

Editor:Xiong Qu