Humanitarian Assistance Conference in Burma

Press Statement
Tom Casey
Washington, DC
May 25, 2008

Humanitarian Assistance Conference in Burma

At a conference on humanitarian assistance co-sponsored by the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Rangoon today, the United States reiterated its offer of disaster assistance experts and logistical resources to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the millions still in need.

To date, the United States has made available over $20.5 million in humanitarian assistance for the people of Burma.

The United States joined other donors in stressing the urgency and importance of the Burmese regime's implementation of its recent commitment to allow international relief teams full access to the cyclone-affected areas.

We will work with ASEAN and the United Nations to determine the needs of the victims and expand the humanitarian relief effort in Burma.

At the same time, the United States is dismayed by the fact that, in the midst of a major humanitarian disaster, in which a majority of those affected have not received assistance yet, the Burmese regime conducted on May 24 a second round of voting on its draft constitutional referendum in the five regions affected by the cyclone.

2008/422
Released on May 25, 2008

ENDS

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