Brussels, 27/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - During the evening of Monday 26 May, EU development ministers met for the second time to grapple with the problem of Burma after its devastation by cyclone Nargis. They hailed the promise made by the Burmese junta to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to finally open up the country's borders to international humanitarian aid, as well as to foreign humanitarian workers without discrimination of nationality. Very circumspect, the 27 ministers mainly insisted that the Burmese junta keep its promise by giving immediate access to enable the efficient and prompt delivery of assistance to all in need. In addition to emergency aid, ministers called for a thorough international assessment of rehabilitation and reconstruction needs to pave the way for a credible rehabilitation plan for the disaster zone. Unanimous conclusions adopted by the Council pass on these messages.
The Council reaffirms its solidarity with the people of Burma/Myanmar and stresses that the magnitude of the disaster calls for mobilisation from everyone - the United Nations, ASEAN countries, international organisations and NGOs - to rescue the survivors, and especially the vulnerable groups.
The Council stresses in its conclusions that “the most pressing priorities are immediate access and a significant increase in the speed and volume of aid reaching those in most need”. In this context, it notes the hope expressed by the EU that the international donors' conference organised in Yangon on 25 May 2008 and the commitment of the Burma/Myanmar authorities to take part in the UN/ASEAN mechanism to speed up delivery and distribution of aid, will serve this aim.
While noting the gradual opening of borders, the Council calls on the Burmese authorities to put their commitment into practice to ensure that national and international humanitarian workers, as well as transport, be immediately authorised to provide the assistance required to meet the enormous needs of the people in the Irrawaddy delta. (A.N.)