(BRUSSELS) - EU aid chief Louis Michel on Friday said he was "relieved" by the announcement that Myanmar's leaders are willing to allow humanitarian aid workers access to help the victims of the devastating Cyclone Nargis.

"It is now clear that our joint diplomatic efforts have delivered concrete results," said Michel, the EU's Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid.

Declaring himself "relieved by this decision" he said it means the "international humanitarian aid community can finally provide the relief and assistance so badly needed to the hundreds of thousands of people" hit by the cyclone.

His comments came after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in Yangon, said Friday he had convinced junta leader Than Shwe to accept foreign disaster experts -- three weeks after the storm left at least 133,000 people dead or missing.

Ban said 2.4 million survivors were in need of emergency aid, which has been held up by Myanmar's refusal to let foreign disaster experts into the country as well as logistical bottle-necks in the complicated aid operation.

Cyclone Nargis ripped through the country's southern Irrawaddy Delta on May 2-3, wiping out entire villages and laying waste to critical rice-growing areas just weeks before the next planting season begins.

"Of course, we have no more time to loose so it's imperative that the Myanmar authorities immediately provide the international community with the practical details of the agreement," said Michel, who visited Myanmar last week.

"The real work of providing life-saving assistance starts now."

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