U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is frustrated by the Burmese government's handling of the humanitarian crisis in the cyclone-devastated country. He is urging the military government to increase access for international relief efforts, warning that further delays could set the country back years. From United Nations headquarters in New York, VOA's Alex Villarreal has more.

Mr. Ban expressed his frustration with the pace of relief efforts in Burma, also known as Myanmar.

"Today is the 11th day since Typhoon Nargis hit Myanmar," he said. "I want to register my deep concern and immense frustration at the unacceptably slow response to this grave humanitarian crisis."

At a press conference, Mr. Ban said the official death toll reported by the Burmese government had climbed to almost 32,000 as of Monday, with more than 34,000 people missing, although international relief agencies report higher numbers. He said the situation has reached a critical point.

"Unless more aid gets into the country very quickly, we face an outbreak of infectious diseases that could dwarf today's crisis," he said. "I therefore call, in the most strenuous terms, on the Government of Myanmar to put its people's lives first. It must do all that it can to prevent this disaster from becoming even more serious."

Mr. Ban said the United Nations and its agencies are well-positioned to help with food, water and medical supplies, but that they need greater access and freedom of movement within the tightly controlled country.

He said the Burmese government continues to deny visas to most foreign aid workers, limiting relief assistance to fewer than a third of the estimated 1.5 million people at risk. U.N. Humanitarian Chief John Holmes said 34 visas have been granted to U.N. aid workers but many more are needed.

The secretary-general said he had spoken with regional governments to urge their cooperation with the United Nations to make both civil and military assets available, including planes, helicopters, trucks and boats.

"Handled properly, Myanmar can recover from this calamity," he said. "Handled poorly, it will become an even deeper crisis that will set back the country's people and its government for years."

Mr. Ban said he sent a second letter Monday to Burmese Senior General Than Swe after his repeated attempts to reach him by phone were unsuccessful.

He emphasized that the crisis should not be about politics but about saving lives, and warned that there is no more time to lose.

My version

 联合国首长批评缅甸对风暴的消极态度

据联合国总部消息：联合国秘书长潘基文对于缅甸政府在受台风严重破坏时，所持的人道主义危机论，甚感失望。

缅甸的救援行动迟缓，潘基文深表痛心！

他说：“纳尔吉斯袭击缅甸已有10天，但是对于人道主义危机，行动迟缓，另人无法接受，对此我深表忧虑，十分痛心！

潘基文在发布会上表示：据缅甸政府官方透露，截至星期一，死亡人数已超过3。2万，失踪3.4万， 而国际救济机构统计数据远高于此。形势已经十分危机。

“如果还是不能得到及时的救助，就会爆发传染病，使得危机变本加厉！”潘基文说道：“因此我呼吁，政府要以各种有效形式，把人民的生死安危放在首位，竭尽全力阻止灾难扩大化。

潘基文说：联合国和其机构已整装待发，提供食物，水和药品供给！但是他们需要更多的进入缅甸国家的权利。

缅甸政府依然禁止外国人员的进入，使得救助受限，致使150 万人处于为难之中，联合国人道主义者首领 John Holmes 说 联合国人员已有34 人享有签证，但是仍微不足道。  

安全秘书长说，他已经和地方政府通话，并催促他们与联合国并肩作战，提供各项民用和军事救援———飞机，直升机，卡车和轮船等。

“若妥善处理，缅甸可以克服这次灾难。” 他说：“若稍有不慎，处理不当，就会引发更大的灾难，使得接下来几年整个遭难，国家受挫。

潘基文说道，他接一直试图联系到缅甸国防部长丹瑞大将，之后致信给他，但是都没成功。

他强调： 人道主义危机不应牵连政治问题，而应以人民生命为重，在这千钧一发时刻，不可怠慢！