U.S. concerned as its aid leaves Yangon airport

By Susan Cornwell and Paul Eckert

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will send two more aid flights to cyclone-stricken Myanmar and offer $13 million more in aid through U.N. agencies even though U.S. officials involved in the relief effort have not been allowed beyond Yangon airport, U.S. officials said on Monday.

As the first U.S. aid flight arrived in Myanmar on Monday, U.S. President George W. Bush condemned the country's military junta for failing to act more quickly to accept international help after Cyclone Nargis devastated the country, saying "either they are isolated or callous."

"It's been days and no telling how many people have lost their lives as a result of the slow response," Bush said in a radio interview with CBS News. "An American plane finally went in but the response isn't good enough."

Henrietta Fore, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and Adm. Timothy Keating, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, flew to Myanmar on Monday with the first C-130 cargo planeload of U.S. supplies, then watched as it was transferred to Myanmar helicopters they were told would fly to stricken areas, a U.S. official said.

"While on the ground, Administrator Fore and Admiral Keating witnessed helicopters carrying the U.S. cargo bound for Bogalay township," Ky Luu, director of USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, told reporters.

Because U.S. officials have serious concerns over whether the aid would reach cyclone victims, they will contact nongovernmental organizations in Bogalay to verify the supplies in fact arrived there, he said.

At the White House, spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters the United States would provide $13 million in food and logistical assistance for U.N. World Food Program relief operations in the former Burma, bring the total U.S. aid to $16.25 million.

"We will send two flights of relief supplies tomorrow and then we'll take it one day at a time from there," she said.