Myanmar Agrees to Allow Aid Efforts by Neighbors

Myanmar agreed Monday to let its Southeast Asian neighbors help coordinate foreign relief assistance for cyclone victims, bending somewhat to international pressure to allow more outside aid, Singapore’s foreign minister, George Yeo, said. But the supply of aid and the entry of relief workers from countries outside the Southeast Asian bloc would continue to be limited, he said.

“We will establish a mechanism so that aid from all over the world can flow into Myanmar,” Mr. Yeo said, speaking at an emergency meeting in Singapore of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, which includes Myanmar.

“Myanmar is also prepared to accept the expertise of international and regional agencies to help in its rehabilitation efforts,” he told a news conference. Referring to the continuing limits on help from countries outside Southeast Asia, he said, “We have to look at specific needs — there will not be uncontrolled access.”
(clip)
Myanmar has raised its official death toll to 78,000. The United Nations and the Red Cross estimate that the toll is more than 100,000, and might be as high as 138,000....(more@link)

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/world/asia/20myanmar.html?partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss