CANBERRA—A senior federal government MP will leave Australia today to travel to cyclone devastated Burma.
Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance Bob McMullan will represent Australia at a UN-ASEAN International Pledging Conference in Rangoon tomorrow.
The conference will seek international support and financial assistance for the humanitarian response to the destruction wrought by cyclone Nargis.
Mr McMullan's involvement will reinforce Australia's push for better access for relief workers, a statement from the office of Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said.
"The Australian government has consistently called on the Burmese regime to allow both humanitarian supplies and international disaster experts into the affected areas to ensure appropriate assistance can be delivered to the hundreds of thousands still in need," the statement said.
Australia has pledged $25 million for the relief effort.
Burma's military junta has agreed to admit foreign aid workers of all nationalities to the delta area worst hit by Nargis, which struck early this month.
Feeds