First UN relief supplies arrive in Myanmar

Source: CCTV.com | 05-09-2008 10:10

Relief supplies from the United Nations as well as aid from Asian countries are arriving at Yangon International Airport for distribution to cyclone victims in Myanmar.

Red-Cross staff arrange relief goods including medical  supplies in Yangon. The international community pleaded with  Myanmar's military rulers Wednesday to let foreign aid workers  and desperately needed relief supplies into the cyclone-crushed  country.(AFP/MNA/Myanmar News Agency)

UN relief flights carrying high-energy biscuits, medicine and other supplies began arriving on Thursday. The United Nations said it had obtained permission from the government to fly emergency supplies to Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the International Red Cross delivered its first emergency aid, primarily emergency shelter materials, into Myanmar, on Thursday.

In Berlin, Germany announced it would double its initial pledge of aid to Myanmar from 500,000 Euros to one million Euros.

Spain and Greece are also preparing to send humanitarian aid to Myanmar.

Myanmar military officials unload water off a Thai military  plane which flew in with food and aid for cyclone victims  at the Yangon airport on May 6, 2008.(Vorasit Satienlerk/Reuters)

China, Thailand, Japan, India, Singapore, Indonesia and Bangladesh have also begun flying in emergency aid and assistance.

South Korea said on Thursday it would provide two million US dollars worth of aid to cyclone-ravaged Myanmar. This comes on top of the 100,000 US dollars worth of aid, announced earlier.

The Myanmar government is also using helicopters to drop food and water to those stranded in the Irrawaddy Delta, southwest of Yangon.

Editor:Du Xiaodan