외교부

ASEAN Secretariat, 5 May 2008

The Secretary-General of ASEAN calls on all other ASEAN Member States to provide urgent relief assistance to victims of Cyclone Nargis, which wreaked havoc on Yangon and the Ayeyawady delta and coastal areas of Myanmar last Friday.

“I heard the news of the cyclone with deep concern,” said Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, the Secretary-General.

“I am sure Myanmar’s neighbours in ASEAN are standing by ready to join the international community to extend help in whatever form the Government of Myanmar would like them to do,” he added.

This is in line with the spirit and purposes of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response, even though the 2005 agreement has not yet entered into force, he pointed out.

Singapore and the Philippines have sent their experts to join the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team assembled in Bangkok over the weekend.

The ASEAN Secretariat, in coordination with the Interim ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management in Jakarta, has alerted all relevant ASEAN focal points to be on high alert and prepare to mobilize emergency assistance for the affected families in Myanmar.

“Given the frequency of such major natural disasters, ASEAN must on its own  as well as in collaboration with its friends and partners, intensify efforts in disaster management and emergency response,” said Dr. Surin.  

He also urged senior officials of countries participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum who are going to meet in Singapore this week to look into ways and means of mobilizing necessary resources and equipment to support the emergency relief in Myanmar.  [ End ]