Myanmar blocks telecom relief

YANGON, Myanmar, June 25 (UPI) -- An international aid organization providing telecom support says it has been forced to leave cyclone-ravaged Myanmar.

Members of Telecoms Sans Frontieres left the Asian nation after attempts to reach affected areas were blocked by government officials, the BBC reported Wednesday.

Telecoms Sans Frontieres reached Myanmar June 1 after waiting nearly a month to be granted visas to enter the closely controlled country. But the aid group was not granted access to areas hit hard by Cyclone Nargis on May 2.

"The frustration is that we were allowed into the country but not allowed to deploy," organization spokesman Oisin Walton was quoted as saying.

The group's request to visit affected areas such as the ravaged Irrawaddy Delta were ignored by officials, he said.

"We got no reply at all," Walton said.

Walton said he believes Telecoms Sans Frontieres was blocked because of the nature of its work.

"They obviously didn't want us in the affected areas with telecommunications equipment," he said.

As for other aid groups, he said they are helping in Myanmar despite the limited assistance they get from country's military junta.

"Aid agencies are doing a wonderful job but the government is not helping," Walton said.