Rashid Khalikov, director of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said that UN agencies, such as the World Food Program, Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees and Children's Fund, were stepping up their stockpiles in the country and in the region and were shipping assistance to Myanmar.

    At the UN Headquarters in New York, Khalikov also told reporters "We cannot tell you how many people are in need of assistance, ... but it is likely to be in the hundreds of thousands."

    The UN Country team in Myanmar had indicated that it considered the critical need, at present, to be plastic sheeting, water purification equipment, cooking sets, mosquito nets, emergency health kits, and food, according to Khalikov.

    Expressing his hope that the government of Myanmar will ease visa regulations in order to speed up the delivery of vital relief supplies, he stressed "this is a critical moment for the affected populations."

    Khalikov also appealed to the international community to support the relief effort that is unfolding, and added that the UN Country Team in Myanmar is drafting a flash appeal, which is to be launched later this week.

    Cyclone Nargis ripped through Myanmar Friday, leaving at least 22,464 people dead and hundreds of thousands without shelter. (May 7)

Editor: Xu Hui