GENEVA (AFP) - - The new UN Human Rights rapporteur for Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, will conduct his first mission next week after getting the go-ahead from the military junta, the United Nations said Thursday.

A statement said Quintana, who will visit Myanmar from August 3 to 7, wanted to meet with "state officials and heads of state institutions, as well as with representatives of ethnic groups, political parties, religious groups, civil society, NGOs and members of the human rights body.

"He has also requested to visit Yangon and areas affected by cyclone Nargis," which struck nearly three months ago and devastated the southern Irrawaddy delta, the statement said.

Cyclone Nargis swept through Myanmar's southwestern delta region on May 2-3 leaving 138,000 people dead or missing and a further 2.4 million in desperate need of help.

Myanmar's ruling generals drew worldwide condemnation for blocking foreign aid from entering the country in the crucial days after the cyclone, but since they relented after a personal visit by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, criticism of the regime has been muted.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations said earlier this week that rebuilding the cyclone-devastated south and aiding the millions of survivors would cost one billion dollars over the next three years.

Aid agencies say that means farmers used to providing food for the rest of the nation will themselves have to rely on handouts, at least until the end of the year.

Damage to the agriculture sector totalled about one billion dollars (640 million euros). That translated as roughly 10 percent of the total storm damage, according to official figures.

Tens of thousands of acres of farmland were flooded, destroying rice, bean and rubber crops.

The UN has spent 200 million dollars on aid to Myanmar since Cyclone Nargis struck. On July 10, it launched a new appeal for 482 million dollars to assist victims.

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