UN and ASEAN to meet in Yangon on cyclone relief aid

May 19, 2008, 15:21 GMT

New York - High-level delegations from the United Nations and ASEAN plan to meet in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday to put more pressure on the military junta to accept international relief aid for Cyclone Nargis victims, the UN said Monday.

The unusual move by the two organizations was announced following the meeting in Singapore this past weekend by the Association for Southeast Asian Nations in Singapore. It was not known if the junta would allow the holding of such a conference in Yangon. But if it did it would be the first time ever the UN and ASEAN would meet in the Myanmar capital.

The UN said in New York that UN-ASEAN pledging conference on May 25 will be in 'recognition of the outpouring of international solidarity and support for alleviating the devastating impact of Cyclone Nargis on Myanmar, and the widespread suffering caused to its people.'

The UN urged its members to take part at ministerial levels in the conference to be co-chaired by the UN and ASEAN.

'The conference will focus on the needs of those affected by the cyclone, and seek international support and financial assistance for the international humanitarian response to meet the most urgent challenges, as well as longer term recovery efforts,' the UN said.

Both the UN and ASEAN urged the international community 'to rise to the occasion and translate their solidarity and sympathy into concrete commitments to help the people of Myanmar emerge from the tragedy and rebuild their lives.'

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was to fly to Southeast Asia on Tuesday for a possible visit to Myanmar's devastated region in the delta.

The junta had let the top UN emergency humanitarian coordinator, John Holmes, visit the delta on Monday for the first time while it still refused to allow more international relief workers into the country.