Pledging Conference: ASEAN’s Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar pledged

H.E. U WunnaMaung Lwin, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs attendedthe Pledging Conference to support ASEAN’s Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar which was held via videoconference at 12:30hrs on 18 August 2021, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nay Pyi Taw.
The Pledging Conference was hosted by H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-Generalof ASEAN, as the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator (SG-AHAC),and was attended by H.E. Dato ErywanPehin Yusof, Minister of Foreign Affairs II of Brunei Darussalam, and Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair to Myanmar, H.E. PrakSokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, H.E. RetnoMarsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, H.E. Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, H.E. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, H.E. Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam , H.E. ThongphaneSavanphet, Deputy Foreign Minister of Laos’ PDRand representatives from ASEAN Member States and its partners.
The Secretary-General of ASEANexplainedabout the provision of ASEAN’s Humanitarian assistance to Myanmar which willbe delivered through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), as per Point 4 of the Five-Point Consensus. Healso explained that humanitarian assistance would be carried out in Myanmar through phases.
In this regard, he explained that while Phase 1 of ASEAN’s humanitarian Assistance in Myanmar would be focusing on provision of immediate needs for COVID-19, Phase 2 would be focusing on provision of broader humanitarian needs.
ASEAN Foreign Ministers and representatives from ASEAN Member States, partners and friends also discussed and exchanged views on the provision of humanitarian assistanceto Myanmar, and expressed their keen interestto pledge and contribution of both cash and in-kind to Myanmar.
Union Minister for Foreign Affairs extended his heartfelt gratitude to H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN for holding this Pledging Conference.
He also extended his appreciations to all the participants for the pledges and contributions they had made to assist Myanmar.
Union Minister also apprised the meeting that with a view to struggling against pandemic, Myanmar has established the Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 for better addressing the pandemic.
He then explained the meeting that Myanmar had been given priority to carry out all the necessary measures for the prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19 which were indeed needed for the people of Myanmar.
However, he explained that Myanmar isstill in need of vaccines, medicines, medical equipment, supplies and other related items to contain the consistent spread of local transmission and high rate of infection.
Union Minister further explained that heavy rain in July has caused flooding across many low-lying areas of Myanmarand that in some specific areasmade Myanmar people more vulnerable.
In this regard, heexplained that while it was important to provide needsfor COVID-19, provision of necessary assistance to the flood affected victims such as essential needs, emergency shelter and proper health care and adequate medical supplieswere also needed. In conclusion, Union Minister mentioned that the outcome of the Pledging Conference would be helpful for Myanmar its efforts to fight against the spread of COVID-19, including on the provision of needs for the flood affected victims.

Healso expressed Myanmar’s readiness and preparedness for swift and effective implementation and delivery of humanitarian assistance provided to Myanmar.

During the meeting, the States such as Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, European Union (EU) and New Zealand made pledges to donate cash amounted to 700,000 USD, 5 million AUD and 370,000 EURO. In addition, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, People’s Republic of China and United Kingdom made pledges for in-kind contribution.Both pledges of contribution are through AHA Centre.

Together with the Union Minister, Senior Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Welfare Relief and Resettlement also attended the PledgingConference.