Ban Ki-moon slams Myanmar junta

YANGON, Myanmar, May 14 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday the Myanmar government's efforts to aid victims of Cyclone Nargis have fallen "far, far too short."

Ban called for a greater effort to line up resources and aid workers to help storm victims, which the U.N. says includes at least 38,000 dead, more than 27,000 others missing and 2.5 million "severely affected" by the May 2 storm that devastated the country.

"Even though the Myanmar government has shown some sense of flexibility, at this time, it's far, far too short," Ban said. "The magnitude of this situation requires much more mobilization of resources and aid workers."

Ban made the comments as he was about to meet Wednesday with leaders of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to hold discussions to determine what "concrete measures" could be taken to persuade Mynamar's military junta to allow foreign aid workers into the country.

"Until now, regrettably, I think we have spent much of our time and energy in facilitating aid, getting food in, and visas being issued," he said.