GENEVA (AP) - The U.N. said Tuesday that Myanmar has signaled it will welcome aid supplies for victims of a devastating cyclone, clearing the way for a major relief operation by U.N. and other organizations waiting to move in a day after the storm.

"This assistance is on its way," said spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs, but she said U.N. workers planning to assess needs are still awaiting their visas to enter the country.

The U.N. emergency relief coordinator said that a number of organizations had said visas were "a concern" and that the United Nations was asking the government to ease the situation.

U.N. Undersecretary-General John Holmes welcomed the government's indication that it is open to international assistance.

"I am ready to allocate a significant amount from the CERF (Central Emergency Fund) as the most urgent needs become clear," Holmes said.

Officials in Myanmar say more than 10,000 people were killed in the storm and that the death toll could soar. They say as many as 1 million people have been left homeless.

"Since we now have the green light for international aid to go there, I hope we will get the visas as soon as possible," UNICEF spokeswoman Veronique Taveau said.

The U.N., Red Cross and other aid organizations have been organizing shipments to the country.

"Our first shipment is arriving today," said Eric Porterfield, spokesman for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

He said the federation was working with the Myanmar Red Cross, which has been playing a leading role in the initial distribution of aid.

The national Red Cross staff and 18,000 volunteers are handing out first aid relief items such as plastic sheets, drinking water, insecticide-treated bed nets and clothes, Porterfield said.

"The U.N. country team in Myanmar reports that urgent needs for those affected by this crisis include shelter, water purification tablets, cooking sets, mosquito nets, emergency health kits and food," the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

Byrs said a U.N. disaster assessment team was ready to join U.N. officials already in Myanmar, also known as Burma, as soon as they receive visas.

"The government has shown a certain openness so far," Byrs said. "We hope that we will get the visas as soon as possible, in the coming hours. I think the authorities have understood the seriousness of the situation and that they will act accordingly."

The U.N. said that obtaining information on the geographical impact of the storm and on populations affected has been a major challenge because of lack of communications.

"Roads have been blocked by debris or flooded, and telephone lines cut," it said, adding that the combined total population of the declared disaster areas is estimated at 24 million.

A number of governments have announced initial aid contributions, but the U.S. State Department said Myanmar officials had turned down permission for a U.S. assessment team to enter the country.

"I'm worried that they won't even accept U.S. aid," said Laura Bush, wife of the U.S. president.

The U.S. first lady, who has been the administration's chief voice on human rights and political conditions in Myanmar, criticized government leaders for failing to warn citizens sufficiently about the storm.

"We know already that they are very inept," she said.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the international community should focus on providing humanitarian aid to Myanmar instead of criticizing the ruling junta's handling of the cyclone.

On Tuesday, Singapore said it will provide US$200,000 (euro129,000) in humanitarian aid.

The city-state's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the relief package it is sending includes tents, ground sheets, sleeping bags, medical supplies, drinking water and emergency food.

The regional representative for the International Organization for Migration has been able to go to the country to begin assessing needs, said spokeswoman Jemini Pandya.

The migration organization, an intergovernmental agency, is well represented in part of the area "and in a good position to distribute medical and nonfood supplies," a U.N. statement said.