We agree with Wednesday's editorial, 'Quickly - aid for Myanmar', that the priority now is to act promptly to provide help to those affected by the cyclone.

It is unfortunate that while making that case, The Straits Times failed to check some basic facts.

First, it incorrectly stated that the US 'has no relations with Myanmar'. In fact, the two countries do have diplomatic relations and our embassy in Yangon is working to secure relief for the Myanmar people.

Second, the piece suggested that the US need to send in a team to assess the specific circumstances on the ground is 'just as incredible' as the military regime's refusal to allow access to the team.

The piece went on to argue that the relief needed is 'standard' so the aid should just be 'winging its way there'. Actually, there is no such thing as 'standard' assistance in such massive disasters. One thing that is standard is our use of US Agency for International Development disaster assistance response teams to assess the specific situation and ensure the right kind of help quickly reaches those with the greatest need.

Major international disasters, including the 2004 tsunami and devastating earthquakes in Iran in 2003 and Pakistan in 2005, have taught us such professional assessments are critical to ensuring that well-intended but poorly planned material assistance does not clog available infrastructure and actually make it harder to reach those in need.

Daniel Shields
Charge d'Affaires
Embassy of the United States of America

EDITOR'S NOTE: Emergency relief being despatched or readied by Asian governments and aid organisations has been standard issue in disaster situations - drinking water, food, water sterilisation tablets, medicines, blankets and tents. On Myanmar-US diplomatic ties, we stand corrected.