A senior official of the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has called for continued international support for Myanmar to combat the impact of a massive earthquake that struck nearly a month ago.



UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly Clements spoke to NHK in Tokyo on Wednesday.



Clements said the situation in the area affected by the quake in late March is "tragic." She said many people are now without shelter and also have no way to find the support they need urgently.



About areas where fighting continues between the military and pro-democracy forces since the coup four years ago, she said, "The permissions that we have sought have been received." She said it is therefore possible to access people there to provide aid. But she added that in some cases aid workers may go in but may have to pull back, depending on security.



She noted that the country is largely cut off from the international community, referring to insufficient global media attention on the tragic situation.