US says aid has helped 100,000 in Myanmar

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The White House said Monday that 31 US aid flights into Myanmar have brought critical disaster relief supplies that will help about 100,000 people in the wake of tropical cyclone Nargis.

"It's our view that we would like to continue to do more," spokesman Scott Stanzel told reporters in Washington, where the country is referred to as Burma.

"We have had 31 flights into Burma thus far. We're continuing to deliver emergency relief commodities, including water, blankets, hygiene kits, insecticide-treated bed nets to protect against malaria, and plastic sheeting for shelter," he said.

"Our latest figure available is that these supplies will benefit up to 100,000 of the Burmese people. And I would just say that our desire is to continue to help the Burmese people," Stanzel said.

He spoke before the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of which Myanmar is a member, announced it would hold an international conference on Sunday to raise funds for the devastated country.