SelectPlusUN Chief Goes to Myanmar to Press Junta Over AidUN Chief Goes to Myanmar to Press Junta Over AidThe Associated PressU.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon heads to Myanmar on Thursday for a major diplomatic challenge; persuading the ruling generals to let in a torrent of foreign assistance for cyclone victims. (May 21[Notes:VO --BAN KI MOON IN THAILAND] STOPPING IN THAILAND ONE DAY AHEAD OF HIS TRIP TO MYANMAR -- U.N. SECRETARY - GENERAL BAN KI-MOON URGED MYANMAR TO FOCUS ON SAVING LIVES NOT ON POLITICS. HIS REMARKS CAME AFTER THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT THERE REFUSED A U.S. PROPOSAL FOR AMERICAN WARSHIPS TO DELIVER RELIEF SUPPLIES. [Notes:VO --DISASTER AND ASSISTANCE VIDEO]BY MYANMAR'S OWN COUNT -- MORE THAN 130 THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE DEAD OR MISSING FROM THE RECENT CYCLONE -- AND THE U.N. SAYS UP TO TWO-AND-A HALF MILLION SURVIVERS ARE HUNGRY AND HOMELESS.IT'S WORRIED ABOUT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE. [Notes:VO--DISASTER AND ASSISTANCE VIDEO] BAN SAYS THERE IS A FUNCTIONING RELIEF PROGRAM IN PLACE -- BUT AID IS ONLY GETTING TO ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF THOSE IN NEED.JOHN HOLMES -- THE U.N.'S TOP OFFICIAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS -- SPENT SEVERAL DAYS TOURING MYANMAR'S DEVASTATION.HE SAID IT'S VITAL FOR THE JUNTA (HUNN-tuh) TO LET IN MORE INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS. [Notes:SOT --JOHN HOLMES / UN HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS]'these people were left with nothing...their houses were gone....need to start from scratch....going to need an enormous amount of help to do that.' [Notes:VO--VIDEO OF HOLMES AND BAN] THE TWO U.N. DIPLOMATS WILL TRAVEL TO MYANMAR THURSDAY TO HELP LEAD AN AID CONFERENCE THERE THIS WEEKEND. [Notes:SOT--JOHN HOLMES]I think there is a readiness to respond...to be generous....a recognition of the huge scale of this catastrophe....the death toll is really horrific. [Notes:VO --DISASTER VIDEO] HOLMES SAYS HE HOPES A MECHANISM CAN BE PUT IN PLACE TO COORDINATE MYANMAR'S OWN RELIEF EFFORTS WITH THOSE OF IT'S NEIGHBORS -- AND THE U-N.THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT SAYS THE COUNTRY'S LOSSES TOP 10 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS. ___ ___, The Associated Press.
