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| UN condemns Burma 'camp closures' | UN condemns Burma 'camp closures' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A senior UN official has said that any coercion of Burmese cyclone victims to return home is completely unacceptable. | |
| Terje Skavdal's remarks follow reports that Burma's military government had begun to evict homeless families from some government-run emergency camps. | Terje Skavdal's remarks follow reports that Burma's military government had begun to evict homeless families from some government-run emergency camps. |
| It has given them bamboo poles and tarpaulins and told them to go and rebuild their lives, say reports. | It has given them bamboo poles and tarpaulins and told them to go and rebuild their lives, say reports. |
| An estimated 2.4m people remain homeless and hungry following Cyclone Nargis, which struck on 2 May. | An estimated 2.4m people remain homeless and hungry following Cyclone Nargis, which struck on 2 May. |
| Mr Skavdal, head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said he could not confirm the camp closures but pointed out that the agency did not endorse premature return to areas with no services. | Mr Skavdal, head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said he could not confirm the camp closures but pointed out that the agency did not endorse premature return to areas with no services. |
| "People need to be assisted in the settlements and satisfactory conditions need to be created before they can return to their place of origins," said Mr Skavdal. | "People need to be assisted in the settlements and satisfactory conditions need to be created before they can return to their place of origins," said Mr Skavdal. |
| "Any forced or coerced movement of people is completely unacceptable." | "Any forced or coerced movement of people is completely unacceptable." |
| 'Bureaucratic hindrance' | 'Bureaucratic hindrance' |
| A Unicef official, Teh Tai Ring, had earlier said camps set up by the government in the Irrawaddy Delta towns of Bogale and Labutta had been emptied, according to AP news agency. | |
| Map of the cyclone zoneWill Burma keep its word on aid?Burmese anger at junta | Map of the cyclone zoneWill Burma keep its word on aid?Burmese anger at junta |
| Mr Skavdal also complained of "bureaucratic hindrance" of aid workers and urged the junta to allow in 30 International Red Cross staff who were awaiting visas. | Mr Skavdal also complained of "bureaucratic hindrance" of aid workers and urged the junta to allow in 30 International Red Cross staff who were awaiting visas. |
| Last week, senior General Than Shwe assured UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon all foreign aid workers would be allowed in. | Last week, senior General Than Shwe assured UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon all foreign aid workers would be allowed in. |
| The international community last week pledged $150m (£75m) for cyclone relief in Burma but state media lashed out at donors, saying the junta needed $11bn to rebuild the stricken country. | The international community last week pledged $150m (£75m) for cyclone relief in Burma but state media lashed out at donors, saying the junta needed $11bn to rebuild the stricken country. |
| The Burmese-language daily, Myanma Ahlin, said cyclone survivors could get by without "bars of chocolate" from the international community. | The Burmese-language daily, Myanma Ahlin, said cyclone survivors could get by without "bars of chocolate" from the international community. |
| At least 78,000 people have died as a result of the cyclone, and another 56,000 people are still missing. | At least 78,000 people have died as a result of the cyclone, and another 56,000 people are still missing. |