But the numbers are still small, the permissions uneven and the procedures still uncertain. "We are not naive enough to believe that a policy guideline given at the top will be translated into practice at all levels going into the delta," said Surin Pitsuwan, general secretary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which together with the United Nations is coordinating the relief effort. "We are prying open," he said at a news conference. "Step by step."
The ruling generals, widely condemned in the West and in the U.N. for political and human rights abuses, have resisted outside help in cyclone recovery, fearing it could undermine their control.
While apparently opening its door to international donors, the military government has refused permission to U.S., French and British warships loaded with supplies just outside its territorial waters.
In denying entry, the government has said it fears that any such aid from Western powers would have "strings attached." However, it has allowed more than 60 U.S. Air Force flights to bring supplies to the Yangon airport.
Paul Risley, a spokesman for the U.N. World Food Program in Bangkok, said, "The opening provided by Friday's meeting allows us to ramp up significantly our efforts."
Since Saturday, he said, four staff members have traveled in the delta. Yesterday seven additional visas had been issued as the agency increases its presence.
"At present we have 29 national staff in the delta, and they've been our entire presence for the past three weeks," he said. "But in order to really scale up the size of food assistance and delivery across the delta region, we need to bring in experienced international humanitarian relief workers."
The delivery of aid has already accelerated, he said, with chartered boats and barges and a fleet of trucks loaded with rice, high-energy biscuits and ready-to-eat food. The government has given the WFP permission to deploy 10 helicopters. Risley said one had arrived in Yangon and the others were being brought in transport planes from South Africa, Uganda and Ukraine.
