Junta Leader Visits Nargis Victims as UN Envoy Arrives

General meets survivors for first time since cyclone hit
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted May 18, 2008 2:48 PM CDT
Junta Leader Visits Nargis Victims as UN Envoy Arrives
A survivor of cyclone Nargis prays at the Schwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, Saturday, May 17, 2008.    (Associated Press)

The head of Burma's junta emerged today for the first time since cyclone Nargis struck two weeks ago to meet with survivors, CNN reports. Gen. Than Shwe visited a refugee camp 200 miles south of Yangon, touching the faces of infant survivors. The visit came as the UN's humanitarian secretary began a three-day tour meant to pressure Burma to accept more foreign aid, the AP reports.

John Holmes suggested the death toll could exceed 100,000, and will be visiting the hard-hit  Irrawaddy Delta—which is predicted to receive 5 inches of rain in coming days—to assess damage. Burma will let in five more US aid flights, but the regime still hasn't given foreign workers carte blanch to reach the affected areas. (More Myanmar stories.)

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