New York: The United Nations has expressed its disappointment and frustration at the limited access to Myanmar where some 1.5 million victims of Nargis cyclone are in desperate need of relief supplies and warned that more people will die due to this crisis.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was making efforts to reach Myanmar's senior General Than Shwe by telephone to urge him to remove obstacle in the way of delivery of relief supplies and allow aid workers immediate access to help people threatened by disease because of lack of clean drinking water and sanitation as also food.

"I am concerned that if we lose time at this very critical time, then many more people will die because of this crisis," Ban said in a statement.

Ban said he has been urging the authorities of Myanmar to be flexible in opening their boundaries so that aid workers can enter.

The United States officials too were expressing concern over delay in reaching aid to the victims.

Four Naval ships, including destroyer USS Mustin and three vessel Essex Expeditionary Strike Force, were moving towards Myanmar for the gulf of Thailand but it was yet unclear whether Washington would try to airdrop supplies without consent of Myanmar.

As some reports coming out of Myanmar suggested that the military junta ruling the country might be wary of foreigner coming into country at a time when referendum on the new constitution is being held on Saturday, UN officials, including Ban, suggested postponing the vote to a later date.

Reports had suggested that the government plans to hold the referendum in unaffected areas and postpone in the areas devastated by cyclone Nargis.

Source : PTI