YANGON, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar has accepted an
offer of the United States to send humanitarian aid to the country's cyclone
victims, state radio reported Friday in a night broadcast.
Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu gave the
assurance Friday to the Charge d'affaires of the United States Shari Villarosa,
saying that the country is receiving such relief aid from any country without
discrimination at this time according to its policy dealing with the disaster,
the report said.
Kyaw Thu denied rumors about Myanmar's turning down
of such relief materials from Western countries but accept those from nations in
good relations with Myanmar, clarifying that the country has never done so in
this case.
Kyaw Thu outlined that well wishers abroad may make
cash donation through Myanmar embassies stationed there, while those who like to
donate relief goods may present at the Yangon International Airport and
seaports.
According to the report, the U.S. relief aid would
arrive in Yangon in days.
A foreign ministry's statement said earlier on Friday
that "At this juncture, the international community can best help the victims by
donating emergency provisions such as medical supplies, food, cloth, electricity
generator, and materials for emergency shelter or with financial assistance,"
adding that "Myanmar will wholeheartedly welcome such course of action".
"The government and the people of Myanmar are
grateful to the friendly nations, the United Nations, international
organizations, non-governmental organizations, private individuals and others
for their sympathy and condolences expressed and the kind generosity in donating
emergency relief provisions as well as the financial support for relief and
resettlement of the victims in cyclone-affected areas," it said.
"Currently, Myanmar has prioritized receiving
emergency relief provisions and is making strenuous efforts to transport those
provisions without delay by its own labor to the affected areas," the statement
said, clarifying that "Myanmar is not yet ready to receive search and rescue
teams as well as media teams from foreign countries".