UN chief: Myanmar says yes to foreign helicopters

The U.S. is already flying supplies in from Thailand on C-130 cargo aircraft, at a rate of about five flights a day. But the planes go to Myanmar's biggest city, Yangon, from which it is a difficult journey to the Irrawaddy delta.

Ban is expected to visit areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis as well as talk with officials and aid workers. On Sunday, he is scheduled to attend a meeting of aid donors in Yangon. Myanmar, one of the world's poorest nations, claims losses from the disaster exceeded $10 billion.

At U.N. headquarters, Ban said he was confident aid efforts can be increased and welcomed the junta's "recent flexibility" in allowing relief workers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to begin distributing aid.

Myanmar's leaders began three days of mourning for the dead and missing. Flags at government offices, schools and large hotels flew at half staff, but shops opened and many people in Yangon said they had little idea what the official mourning entailed.

Others were angry.

"I don't think flying flags at half-mast is going to help. If they are sincere, they should welcome help from everyone," said Zin Moe, a 32-year-old clothes vendor. "They are not letting in aid quickly enough and people are angry."

State-owned media quoted Senior Gen. Than Shwe, the junta leader, as saying the government has spent $45.5 million on relief operations, has met immediate needs such as food, shelter and health care and is moving into the reconstruction phase.

Foreign aid agencies and U.N. officials were less upbeat.

"I think there is still a long way to go to improve the relief efforts, to speed it up and to make sure that all the people who are in need are reached," said Holmes. "There is still a major effort to be mounted on the relief side which has to go on for some three to six months."

Holmes said his tour of the delta found the worst damage in the southernmost areas closest to the coast.