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Official: 1 shipment to be allowed to Myanmar

WASHINGTON — The governing military junta in Myanmar has agreed to allow a single U.S. cargo aircraft to bring in relief supplies for victims of a devastating cycle, Bush administration officials said Friday.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the U.S. welcomed the go-ahead to land a U.S. military C-130 in the country on Monday. He said he hopes this is the beginning of continued aid flowing into the country from the U.S. and other nations and international relief agencies.

Earlier Friday, Ky Luu, director of the U.S. office of foreign disaster assistance, had said that skilled aid workers were being forced to sit on the sidelines as victims of last week’s cyclone die. His comments reflect the mounting frustration among the U.S. and other countries as they wait for permission from the military-led government to begin trying to help.

“We will continue to work with the government of Burma to allow other assistance,” Johndroe said, using the country’s former name. “We hope that this is the beginning of a long line of assistance from the United States to Burma.”

“We are very concerned about the people of Burma,” he added.

Johndroe also said that while the U.S. still has limited leeway to help, “One flight is much better than no flights.”

“They’re going to need our help for a long time,” Johndroe said. He spoke in Crawford, Texas, where President Bush’s daughter, Jenna, will be wed on Saturday.

The breakthrough came after days of waiting on the U.S. side. It is not yet known what supplies will be included. U.S. aircraft have been positioned in Thailand and elsewhere nearby waiting for permission to transport supplies to the cyclone-devastated country.

A Pentagon official had confirmed the permission for the single shipment earlier on the condition of anonymity.

In response to the approval, Marine Maj. Stuart Upton, a Pentagon spokesman, said Friday that, “We hope that this is the beginning of broader support between the United States and Burma to help the Burmese people.”

The U.S. military has C-130 cargo aircraft and about a dozen helicopters in the region, ready to fly supplies into Myanmar. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Friday that the aircraft could reach Myanmar in a few hours.

In addition, Navy ships have begun moving from the Gulf of Thailand toward Myanmar to be available if needed.