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UN chief to visit cyclone-hit Myanmar

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-19 11:19

UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to Myanmar this week to accelerate relief efforts in the wake of the devastation wreaked by Cyclone Nargis, which hit the country on May 2.

Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas announced Sunday that the UN chief will leave New York Tuesday and is scheduled to arrive in Myanmar Wednesday for a three-day visit.

He will tour the areas most affected by the cyclone, especially the Irrawaddy delta in the south of the country, and travel to Yangon, the most populous city.

Ban will also hold meetings with senior government officials, she said, emphasizing that the United Nations remained willing to work with the authorities to speed up the distribution of relief aid.

"The whole purpose of the trip is to accelerate the pace of disaster relief. He hopes his presence can really make things go faster," said Montas.