The United States said on Wednesday it had strongly urged Asian allies such as China, Thailand, Indonesia and India to put pressure on the junta in Myanmar to allow in aid after a devastating cyclone.
So far military-ruled Myanmar has resisted requests by the United States and others to allow in disaster assessment teams and much-needed aid following the giant storm that killed more than 23,000 and left tens of thousands more missing. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the US government had reached out to Myanmar's neighbours, including Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as China, India and Japan to get them to use their influence with the junta.
"We have said 'use whatever leverage you have with the Burmese government to get them to allow in outside assistance teams so that they can help'," McCormack told reporters. "Very clearly, this is a humanitarian disaster of immense scope," he added. In addition, US diplomats had also spoken to Myanmar's Embassy in Washington but so far received no response over whether visas would be granted to US experts and others pre-positioned in neighbouring countries.
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