Myanmar suffers from serious shortage of humanitarian aid

The international community does not provide the necessary help to almost 2.5 million victims of the recent cyclone, the United Nation says. Officials particularly said that about 390 tons of food would have to be delivered to the disaster-stricken area every day to help 750,000 victims. However, less than 300 tons of food have been distributed in Myanmar since Cyclone Nagris struck the nation on May 2-3 killing at least 43,000 people.

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Hamstringing the international effort is the ruling junta's refusal to allow almost all foreign nationals into the delta area, insisting relief operations there can be handled by Myanmar nationals.

The United Nations says the regime has issued 40 visas to its staffers and another 46 to nongovernment agencies, but these personnel have been confined to the immediate Yangon area.

Among those seeking a visa is the world body's top emergency relief coordinator who U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wants to dispatch to Myanmar.

The secretary-general's office said Thursday that John Holmes, the undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, will be sent to Myanmar to try to "open up more access" for U.N. relief personnel in some of the hardest-hit areas. Holmes has applied for a visa to enter Myanmar but has not yet gotten approval to visit, Ban's office said.

The official death toll from Cyclone Nargis continued to soar and 1.5 to 2.5 million survivors remained in desperate need of assistance.

The U.N. Children's Fund said Friday that of the survivors, up to 1 million children were in need of urgent assistance.

A UNICEF statement said the agency's fourth flight into Myanmar , scheduled for Saturday, would deliver several tons of food for malnourished children. Radio broadcasts have also been started to help reunite separated children with their families, it said.

Also scheduled to arrive this weekend are 2 of 10 tons of medicines and medical equipment from Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, said agency executive Amos Avgar.

The junta, meanwhile, announced that a constitution that critics say will cement military rule had won overwhelming support in a referendum that the junta went forward with on May 10 even though much of the country was reeling from the storm.

Also Thursday, state radio broadcast a warning of legal action against anyone hoarding or misusing aid for the victims.

Myanmar 's military, which has ruled the country for 46 years, has itself come under suspicion of diverting relief supplies, though it denies the allegation and solid evidence has yet to surface.

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