The US first lady, who has taken a keen interest in the pro-democracy movement in Burma and issues related to the welfare of its people, was speaking at the World Food Programme executive board meeting in Rome.

“Burma’s ruling junta has not yet granted full access to the international community,” she said.

Just last week, the US Navy pulled relief ships from Burma’s coastline after 15 separate requests to provide assistance were rejected. However, while the Burmese regime has rejected offers of international assistance, many people in areas devastated by the May 2-3 cyclone have still not received any help, Bush said.

The UN estimates that more than six weeks after Cyclone Nargis hit the coastal areas of Burma, a significantly large percentage of people in the affected area remain without any humanitarian relief.

Bush said the US had committed more than US $35 million in humanitarian assistance in response to the cyclone disaster.

“Of this total, $12 million will go to the World Food Programme (WFP) for food aid, including 1,600 tons of urgently needed commodities from a USAID warehouse in Djibouti. These will arrive in the coming weeks,” she said.

Bush said she appreciated the work done by the WFP in carrying out relief work and distribution of food to the people in the affected areas.

“The World Food Programme is playing a critical role in directing aid to those who require it most. Thank you very, very much for your important work in Burma. And thank you for putting up with all the challenges of working there and continuing to figure out ways to get help to the people in need,” Bush said.

Referring to the ongoing global food crisis, Bush said today that as all nations face a significant increase in global food prices, higher costs can mean the difference between a daily meal and no food at all for millions of people across the globe.

Last month President Bush called on the US Congress to provide an additional $770 million to support US food aid and development programs. In addition, the administration authorized an estimated $200 million in emergency food aid in April.

These two actions bring the US response to rising food prices to nearly $1 billion in new funds that will further ongoing US efforts. The US is projected to spend at least $5 billion to fight global hunger over the next two years.

As the US increases its food assistance, increasing commodity and freight costs are making it more difficult to provide life-saving emergency food aid, Laura Bush said.

The US first lady has called on the US Congress to support a proposal to purchase up to 25 percent of US food assistance directly from farmers in the developing world.

“This measure would help build local agriculture, and by reducing shipping delays and costs, it would help us get more food to those in need faster. I urge the United States Congress to approve this as soon as possible,” she said.