U.N. chief: Turning point in cyclone crisis

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is hopeful "a turning point" has been reached in tackling Myanmar's cyclone crisis as an international conference Sunday pledged tens of millions of dollars for some 2.4 million survivors who need aid.

The one-day, 52-nation conference began on an optimistic note after the ruling junta promised that foreign aid workers could enter the most devastated areas, from which they have been banned since the cyclone struck three weeks ago.

While some nations opened their pocketbooks, others gave notice that aid would be conditional on the generals keeping their promises of full access.

"I hope this marks a turning point in tackling the challenges facing this country," Ban told some 500 delegates as the conference convened in Myanmar's largest city, Yangon, with a minute of silence for the dead.

But he said international relief workers and medical teams from neighboring countries must have "unhindered access to the areas hardest hit by the disaster." Watch a U.N. official discuss the obstacles on the ground »

After the conference ended, Ban said he was "confident" the junta will honor its commitment to open up.

"I think the Myanmar government is moving fast in the right direction," he told reporters traveling with him.

Myanmar's Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Thein Sein, shedding his military uniform for the traditional sarong-like "longyi" and jacket, said that international aid "with no strings attached" was welcome, but that only civilian vessels could take part in the aid operation. Watch a UNICEF official describe a "dire situation" in Myanmar »

"Relief supplies can be transported by land, air or sea. But if relief supplies have to be transported by water, civilian vessels can come in through Yangon port," he said.

U.S., British and French warships, loaded with humanitarian supplies, have been cruising off Myanmar's coast. But last week state-media said they would not be allowed into the country, citing fears of an American invasion to snatch the country's oil supplies.

Thein Sein, saying that 3,200 tons of humanitarian supplies have already been delivered from abroad, presented a long list of urgent needs including temporary shelters, rice seeds, fertilizer, fishing boats and new salt factories.

Ban estimated the relief operation would last at least six months.

"There is good reason to hope that aid to the worst affected areas of Myanmar will increase significantly in the coming days. These needs must be funded, immediately," he said.

Myanmar's military regime has said it needs US$10.7 billion (euro6.8 billion) for cyclone reconstruction.

Washington's representative, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel, said the United States was prepared to offer much more than the US$20.5 million (euro13 million) already donated. But the offer was made on the condition that international disaster experts are allowed to thoroughly assess conditions in affected areas to determine how best to help the victims.

Australia and European diplomats, including those from Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Germany, also offered conditional pledges, urging Myanmar authorities to give aid workers full access. Some, like the Netherlands and Sweden, spoke of the need for the news media to have free access to ensure that people are informed.

Among the pledges Sunday:

-- The European Community, which has already given 46 million euros (US$72.5 million), offered another 17 million euros (US$26.8 million).

-- China has pledged a total of US$11 million (euro7 million).

-- Australia pledged 25 million Australian dollars ($24 million; euro15.2 million).

-- The Philippines doubled its previous pledge to US$20 million (euro12.7 million).

-- South Korea upped an earlier pledge for a total of US$2.5 million (euro 1.6 million).

Bert Koenders, the Dutch minister for development cooperation, told The Associated Press, "The reason we came is to support Ban Ki-moon. That's the reason why many ministers came here. We're all very positive about what he has agreed with the government leader here, but also skeptical because you have to see the facts on the ground."

After weeks of stubbornly refusing assistance, Myanmar's ruling generals told the United Nations they were now willing to allow workers of all nationalities to go into the devastated Irrawaddy delta to assess the damage.

The ability to make such assessments will be essential in winning aid pledges from potential donors. Some agencies voiced concern about how the junta would implement the agreement.

Myanmar's generals have a long history of making promises to top U.N. envoys, then breaking them when the international spotlight on their country fades.

The U.N. has repeatedly failed to persuade the military to make democratic reforms and to release opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, whose five-year period of house arrest expires this week.

Nyan Win, spokesman for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, said Sunday there has been "no sign at all" that she would be released. He said a decision on whether to free her or continue her detention would probably come Monday.

Ban appeared to sideline political issues, saying during opening remarks, "We must think about people just now, not politics."

But in private, Ban said he was "cautiously optimistic that this could be a turning point for Myanmar to be more flexible, more practical" on the political front.

"Even though this time my mission brought me here on humanitarian grounds, I'm sure I will certainly have another opportunity to address this issue," he said, referring to Suu Kyi.

An estimate released Saturday by the U.N. said that of the total 2.4 million people affected by the storm, about 42 percent had received some kind of emergency assistance. But of the 2 million people living in the 15 worst-affected townships, only 23 percent had been reached.

The United Nations has launched an emergency appeal for US$201 million (euro127.7 million). That figure will likely increase further once disaster relief experts are able to survey the Irrawaddy delta.

So far, the U.N. has received about US$50 million (euro31.76 million) in contributions and about US$42.5 million (euro27 million) in pledges in response to the appeal, said Stephanie Bunker, spokeswoman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Aid agencies said much still needs to be clarified from the junta's pledge to allow aid workers into the country, ranging from logistical issues about when visas will be granted to how long they will be allowed to stay in Myanmar and where they can work.

Official estimates put the death toll at about 78,000, with another 56,000 missing. Myanmar has estimated the economic damage at about US$11 billion (euro7 billion).

The restoration of agriculture in the Irrawaddy delta, the country's rice bowl, is a high-priority concern.

"Only a few weeks remain until the rice planting season begins," Ban said. "Millions of people depend on this next harvest, at a time when food prices are soaring around the world. A failure to deal with this problem today will immeasurably compound our problems tomorrow."

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