Long wait: People wait for food to be handed out in the cyclone-hit area of Labutta, Myanmar, on Monday. Brunei is sending officials to join an Asean team to help in relief efforts. Picture: EPA
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
BRUNEI Darussalam will dispatch officials to join the Asean Emergency Rapid Assessment Team, which is scheduled to fly to Myanmar shortly.
The team will report on the conditions on the ground and what will be required in the reconstruction of the affected areas, to be tabled in the special Asean ministerial meeting in Singapore on May 19.
A report from Thailand's The Nation stated that entry permits had been granted to members of the Asean emergency team and that they were to fly to Myanmar as early as yesterday.
Asean Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan said in reports that "this is a defining moment of Asean. We will rise to the occasion."
The secretary general is working around the clock to coordinate Asean members and international aid donors.
Pitsuwan will also be meeting with senior officials from the World Bank in a bid to discuss the long-term reconstruction plans.
Myanmar had indicated to the secretary general that it prefers Asean to coordinate incoming foreign assistance.
Currently, the Asean Secretariat is working out a comprehensive plan to alleviate hardships in Myanmar, including a short-term plan for immediate problems, medium term for rehabilitation and the long term for reconstruction.
A report has already been prepared by Myanmar for consideration of Asean leaders in Singapore.
Core Asean countries have already put on standby various emergencies teams such as medical teams and relief experts to help victims of Cyclone Nargis.
"Once they have the permission, they will move," said the secretary general during a stopover in Bangkok.
Relief donors from Brunei Darussalam have contributed to some of the humanitarian efforts, with the first set of aid sent to Myanmar on Saturday. Coordinated by the Myanmar embassy in Brunei, the urgency of the situation had dictated that supplies be sent by air, with the first cargo of relief containing medical supplies and food. Rehydration salts and water purification tablets were also included. The Brunei Times
The team will report on the conditions on the ground and what will be required in the reconstruction of the affected areas, to be tabled in the special Asean ministerial meeting in Singapore on May 19.
A report from Thailand's The Nation stated that entry permits had been granted to members of the Asean emergency team and that they were to fly to Myanmar as early as yesterday.
Asean Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan said in reports that "this is a defining moment of Asean. We will rise to the occasion."
The secretary general is working around the clock to coordinate Asean members and international aid donors.
Pitsuwan will also be meeting with senior officials from the World Bank in a bid to discuss the long-term reconstruction plans.
Myanmar had indicated to the secretary general that it prefers Asean to coordinate incoming foreign assistance.
Currently, the Asean Secretariat is working out a comprehensive plan to alleviate hardships in Myanmar, including a short-term plan for immediate problems, medium term for rehabilitation and the long term for reconstruction.
A report has already been prepared by Myanmar for consideration of Asean leaders in Singapore.
Core Asean countries have already put on standby various emergencies teams such as medical teams and relief experts to help victims of Cyclone Nargis.
"Once they have the permission, they will move," said the secretary general during a stopover in Bangkok.
Relief donors from Brunei Darussalam have contributed to some of the humanitarian efforts, with the first set of aid sent to Myanmar on Saturday. Coordinated by the Myanmar embassy in Brunei, the urgency of the situation had dictated that supplies be sent by air, with the first cargo of relief containing medical supplies and food. Rehydration salts and water purification tablets were also included. The Brunei Times