Asian nations rally around cyclone-hit Myanmar
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
ASIAN nations yesterday joined the international community in offering support for victims of the devastating Myanmar cyclone, after a rare appeal for help from the nation's military junta.
The reclusive southeast Asian country, whose rulers normally shun foreign aid, reached out to the world as the death toll climbed to more than 22,000 after tropical cyclone Nargis tore through the impoverished nation at the weekend.
China said it would send one million dollars ($1.35 million) in emergency aid in batches, some of it in cash, to help reconstruction.
"I believe that the government and people of Myanmar will soon overcome the difficulties caused by the cyclone and restore normal life and production," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in a message to his Myanmar counterpart General Thein Sein.
Wen also expressed sympathy for the Myanmar people and sent his condolences, said the statement, which was posted on the Chinese foreign ministry's website.
Immediate neighbour Thailand airlifted more than 400,000 dollars' worth of food, drinking water and medical supplies, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said.
With the disaster bringing back memories of the 2004 Asian tsunami, Indonesia said it would provide aid worth one million dollars, the Antara news agency reported.
Economic giant Japan offered 28 million yen (270,000 dollars) in emergency aid including tents, electric power generators and other emergency goods "considering the urgency of the situation there and humanitarian aspects to it," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Asean appealed for "generous" international aid for member Myanmar, with Surin Pitsuwan, secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, saying the 10-member bloc has begun to mobilise help through coordination centres in its capitals.
"We are now appealing to all Asean governments, the private sector and the civil society... to please respond generously," he told reporters in Singapore.
Meanwhile Singapore, which has close ties to Myanmar, expressed solidarity and pledged 200,000 US dollars in aid.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said her country was willing to provide aid - but only through UN.AFP
The reclusive southeast Asian country, whose rulers normally shun foreign aid, reached out to the world as the death toll climbed to more than 22,000 after tropical cyclone Nargis tore through the impoverished nation at the weekend.
China said it would send one million dollars ($1.35 million) in emergency aid in batches, some of it in cash, to help reconstruction.
"I believe that the government and people of Myanmar will soon overcome the difficulties caused by the cyclone and restore normal life and production," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in a message to his Myanmar counterpart General Thein Sein.
Wen also expressed sympathy for the Myanmar people and sent his condolences, said the statement, which was posted on the Chinese foreign ministry's website.
Immediate neighbour Thailand airlifted more than 400,000 dollars' worth of food, drinking water and medical supplies, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said.
With the disaster bringing back memories of the 2004 Asian tsunami, Indonesia said it would provide aid worth one million dollars, the Antara news agency reported.
Economic giant Japan offered 28 million yen (270,000 dollars) in emergency aid including tents, electric power generators and other emergency goods "considering the urgency of the situation there and humanitarian aspects to it," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Asean appealed for "generous" international aid for member Myanmar, with Surin Pitsuwan, secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, saying the 10-member bloc has begun to mobilise help through coordination centres in its capitals.
"We are now appealing to all Asean governments, the private sector and the civil society... to please respond generously," he told reporters in Singapore.
Meanwhile Singapore, which has close ties to Myanmar, expressed solidarity and pledged 200,000 US dollars in aid.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said her country was willing to provide aid - but only through UN.AFP
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