Updated on Sunday, May 25, 2008, 00:00 IST

Yangon, May 25: Myanmar must grant "unhindered access" to cyclone-devastated areas as a condition for receiving more American aid, a top US official said Sunday.

Scot Marciel, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of state, has said an international donors conference in Myanmar that the United States is prepared to offer significant aid for cyclone survivors if the junta allows foreign experts to assess the affected areas.

He told the conference the U.S. has already provided more than USD 20.5 million in aid.

Cyclone Nargis struck three weeks ago. Myanmar's ruling generals told the United Nations on Friday they were now willing to allow all foreign aid workers into the devastated Irrawaddy delta to assess the damage.

Bureau Report