Myanmar approves UN aid flight

But the Myanmar government's slowness in issuing visas to aid workers appeared to remain a problem.

Aid workers on the ground have already begun distributing food and other supplies to victims of the weekend's devastating storm, which killed more than 22,000 people and left 41,000 more missing.

India sent two air force planes carrying about 8.8 U.S. tons (8 metric tons) of relief supplies, including tents and medicine, according to the Defense Ministry.

They follow two Indian navy ships that left Tuesday for Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, with similar supplies, said Navtej Sarna, the spokesman for India's External Affairs Ministry.

Indonesia, the country worst hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, said Wednesday it would soon send emergency aid worth $1 million. The tsunami killed more than 160,000 people in Indonesia's Aceh province.

Two military planes carrying food, medicine, blankets and 55 relief workers will leave Thursday, said Maj. Gen. Syamsul Maarif, chief of Indonesia's disaster management coordination agency.

"The tragedy has reminded the president of the December 2004 tsunami," said a spokesman for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"He decided Indonesia must help Myanmar," said the spokesman, Dino Pati Djalal.

Elisabeth Byrs, Geneva spokeswoman for U.N. relief efforts, said she expected the United Nations cargo plane would go from Brindisi, Italy, to Myanmar later Wednesday, but that it is still unclear where it will land in Myanmar.