Local communities in Myanmar have shown remarkable resilience in coping with the destruction caused by Cyclone Giri, which killed at least 45 people and affected 260,000 others two months ago, with substantial food, healthcare and emergency shelters distributed, according to a new United Nations assessment.

The next two months will be crucial for Myanmar, potentially determining its political future and its place in the international community, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today, citing the unsatisfactory nature of recent elections and the need to include those who were excluded.

Humanitarian agencies in Myanmar require an estimated $53 million to respond to the needs of at least 260,000 people who were affected by Cyclone Giri that battered the western coast of the South-east Asian country last month, destroying thousands of homes, infrastructure and farms, the United Nations reported today.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed that the United Nations will continue to support efforts towards a democratic transition in Myanmar, as he spoke with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi following her long-awaited release.