Thai army trucks head for Myanmar with cyclone relief

Bangkok, May 20 (UNI) A convoy of Thai army trucks left Bangkok today for the former Myanmar capital Yangon loaded with relief material for victims of the May 3 cyclone that killed tens of thousands of people in that country.

The ten trucks carrying 120 tonnes of relief supplies will arrive in Yangon tomorrow after crossing the Thai-Myanmar border in Tak province northwest of Bangkok. Myanmar has allowed Thailand to use the land route for sending relief supplies.

Meanwhile, Thailand has allowed international relief agencies to use Bangkok's former international airport Don Mueang as a logistical base for flying relief into Myanmar.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has begun using Don Mueang, a WFP spokesperson said.

The UN emergency food agency has so far only been able to organise 14 relief flights through Rangoon International Airport.

According to WFP, it needs to fly in 375 tonnes of food daily into Myanmar for the cyclone-affected people of the country.

UNI XC NC RN1556