United Nations Noon Briefing 15.5.08
Spokesperson for the Secretary General Michelle Montas


Myanmar
- Secretary-General (SG) met with Association of South Asian nations
- John Holmes will soon go to Myanmar with the WFP
- Holmes going "as soon as possible" within the next 5 - 6 days
- SG has asked him to go
- "encouraging that the Myanmar government is showing some flexibility" - SG
- Holmes to "open access" and see the situation first-hand
- Likely that he will receive a visa - applied yesterday
- Considering a joint task force if needed
- Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 1.6 - 2.5 people in "urgent need" of disaster assistance
- inconsistent access, damage to communications infrastructure, and heavy rains make distributing aid very difficult
- concern over outbreaks of disease
- WFP have dispensed 700 tons of high-energy biscuits, rice
- UNICEF and the Ministry of Health distributing medicine
- Meeting yesterday with SG representative from Myanmar - "positive exchange"
- A coalition to decide on Responsibility to Protect is "somewhere down the line." - Spokesperson for the President of the GA
- There are many who believe that the Responsibility to Protect is linked to human security - Spokesperson for the President of the GA

China
- SG watching the situation carefully
- Confirmed death toll just under 20k but feared that closer to 50k possible
- UN "stands ready" should China request help
- Chinese government has not officially asked for help
- have not received reports that the situation is being handled improperly

Palestine
- SG called Abbas and expressed his support for the peace process
- working towards a two-state solution
- President of the GA was in Middle East recently - traveled from Cairo to Israel - met with leaders in Palestine and Israel - Spokesperson for the President of the GA