U.N. chief convening donors to get aid to cyclone victims

UNITED NATIONS -- A frustrated U.N. chief said Wednesday he was convening key donors and Myanmar's neighbors to weigh options for speeding aid to cyclone victims, including a possible international summit.

With the U.N. warning of a second wave of deaths among up to 2.5 million who survived Cyclone Nargis, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed an urgent need to come up with "concrete measures" to help people in Myanmar.

"The magnitude of this situation requires much more mobilization of resources and aid workers," Ban told reporters at U.N. headquarters.

"Even though the Myanmar government has shown some sense of flexibility, at this time, it's far, far too short."

Estimates of the effect of the May 3 cyclone vary widely. U.N. officials say that Myanmar's military government has now confirmed that 38,491 are dead and 27,838 are missing.

The U.N. says the death toll could exceed 100,000, while the International Red Cross now estimates it is between 68,833 and 127,990.

Wednesday's meeting was called for key donor nations and representatives of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Myanmar. Others invited were representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, France, the United States, China and Russia -- and of India, Bangladesh, Australia and Japan.

The U.N. says it is seeking nearly $200 million for the cyclone survivors, up from last week's estimate of $187 million. So far, donor nations have given or pledged $150 million, said John Holmes, undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and U.N. emergency relief coordinator.

The money is being raised for 10 U.N. agencies and nine non-governmental organizations to buy food, water purification tablets, emergency health kits, mosquito nets, cooking sets, plastic sheeting and water jugs.

Ban said he spoke with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who proposed that the U.N. convene an emergency summit on Myanmar and that Ban possibly visit the country. He declined to comment further.

Ban had stepped up his rhetoric on Monday when he said that there was "no more time to lose" while pressing Myanmar's military junta to accept international assistance. He also said then that he felt "deep concern and frustration" with what he called the junta's "unacceptably slow response to this grave humanitarian crisis."

On Wednesday, Ban kept up the pressure. He said he still had not been able to arrange direct talks with Myanmar junta chairman Senior Gen. Than Shwe, despite repeated calls and letters to him.

Holmes also raised the U.N.'s estimate of survivors still in need of food, shelter and other emergency aid to between 1.6 million and 2.5 million. U.N. agencies and other groups say they have been able to reach only 270,000 people so far.

He criticized the government's "total blockage" of international relief workers in the disaster area, saying there is "a huge frustration" that international staff from the U.N. and relief organizations allowed into the country are being turned back at roadblocks. He called the situation "extremely regrettable and unacceptable."

The U.N. has applied for visas for about 100 U.N. international staff in Myanmar, and close to 40 have been granted, Holmes said. International staff of non-governmental groups have obtained at least 46 visas, he said, while Myanmar's immediate neighbors -- Thailand, Bangladesh, India and China -- have been allowed to send in 160 humanitarian workers.