Washington-based Refugees International has joined the chorus of increasing support for UN Security Council action on Burma, as the 15-member body prepares to hear a landmark briefing in New York later today.

The advocacy group is the latest organization to call for firm action on Burma by the Council after months of pressure by exile groups, humanitarian organizations and politicians across the globe.

“Refugees International urges the Security Council to make the most of this historic opportunity for the UN to play a greater leadership role in Burma and develop a common strategy to respond to one of the biggest humanitarian and human rights crises of our time,” RI said in a statement.

The organization said that following its experiences in more than 30 countries, it considered Burma to be “a country which requires immediate Security Council debate and action.”

The Burma Campaign UK—an organization that has lobbied hard for action on Burma at the UN— today also welcomed the forthcoming briefing, but warned there is still a long way to go before the possibility of UNSC action against Rangoon.

“This must be a first step towards passing a binding resolution requiring the restoration of democracy to Burma,” said Yvette Mahon, Director of The Burma Campaign UK.

“At long last the crisis in Burma is getting the attention it deserves,” she said. “But we need decisive action from the United Nations, not more waffle and hot air.”

The US Campaign for Burma and Manila-based Initiatives for International Dialogue—among others—have also recently welcomed the briefing as part of what they hope will be the beginning of UNSC involvement on Burma.

The Burma Campaign UK confirmed that such a move now enjoys the support of 10 Council members, one more than the nine required for an issue to become part of the body’s formal agenda.

Commentators have recently said that permanent Council members China and Russia, along with Algeria, Brazil and Japan are still not convinced that Burma requires international involvement, leading to speculation that the only remaining member—Argentina—has switched sides in support of the US position.

If true, Argentina’s support could prove significant for the prospect of further action on Burma when the UNSC is reconfigured on January 1. Argentina is one of five non-permanent members of the Council whose tenure runs until the end of 2006. If Argentina actually does support the US-led position on Burma, two more backers would be required from the five incoming members—Slovakia, Qatar, Peru, Congo and Ghana—in order to get Burma on the Council’s formal agenda next year.