UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in cyclone-devastated Myanmar to tour the ravaged Irrawaddy Delta and talk with the country's military ruler Gen Than Shwe.
He will attempt to accelerate relief efforts for the estimated 2.4 million people in need of help since the cyclone struck on May 2.
"I will meet with senior Government officials in the Myanmar Government, including Senior General Than Shwe," Mr Ban told journalists at Bangkok airport on Thursday morning.
He said it was essential to "expedite all arrangements for facilitating the free movement of international relief aid and workers".
"The Government itself acknowledges that there has never been a disaster on this scale in the history of their country," he added, saying it was a "critical moment" for the country.
According to Mr Ban, the relief programme had so far reached just 25 per cent of the people in need.
The death toll from Cyclone Nargis currently stands at about 78,000, with a further 56,000 missing.
Burma's reluctance to accept aid from the West has significantly hampered the relief effort.
Cyclone Nargis brought winds reaching 120mph.
The article UN head tours cyclone-ravaged Myanmar originally appeared on 999 Today
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