Myanmar Mourns; 1.4M Still At Risk

The United Nations will need to continue its emergency operations for the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar for the foreseeable future, the global body said Tuesday, as the nation began an official 3-day mourning period.

The assessment contrasts with that of the military-led government in Myanmar. Junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe said earlier this week that the government is moving into the reconstruction phase more than two weeks after the May 2-3 disaster.

Out of 2.4 million people affected by the storm, only 500,000 have so far received international aid, said Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The cyclone has claimed about 78,000 lives, and some residents have been frustrated with the junta's response to the disaster calling the official mourning period a symbolic gesture lacking sincerity.

Flags at government offices, schools and large hotels were lowered to half-staff, but there was no period of silence. Shops were open as usual and many people in Yangon said they had little idea of what the government-announced mourning entailed. Others were angry.

"I don't think flying flags at half-mast is going to help. If they are sincere, they should welcome help from everyone," said Zin Moe, 32, who sells clothes. "They are not letting in aid quickly enough and people are angry."

Some 1.4 million people need urgent assistance and aid workers have yet to reach some remote areas in the badly hit Irrawaddy River delta, she said.

"There are still urgent needs for a part of the population," Byrs told reporters in Geneva. "So far the emergency phase continues for the U.N."

CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey reported that the lack of fresh water and shelter are causing outbreaks of diarrhea and respiratory illnesses, according to the British charity Merlin.

Foreign U.N. staff in Myanmar are still prevented from moving freely outside the country's main city, Yangon, Byrs said. But local staff have been allowed access to eight government-run distribution centers outside the city and further progress in getting aid to the needy is expected in the coming days, she said.

"We hope to see a scaling-up of the operation in the near future" Byrs said, noting that the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations will create a task force to redistribute foreign aid in Myanmar.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was to meet Shwe when he visits the Southeast Asian country this week to discuss assistance for victims of its recent cyclone.

U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes says Ban Ki-moon is supposed to visit Myanmar on Thursday for talks and an inspection of the devastated area. On Sunday he is supposed to attend a meeting of aid donors in Yangon.

Byrs said the U.N. has so far received only 22 percent - or about $43 million - of the $201 million it appealed for to help the cyclone victims in Myanmar. Donors have pledged about as much again but not yet transferred the funds to the global body.