Southeast Asia's regional bloc will set up a task force to handle distribution of foreign aid for cyclone victims in Burma, which estimates losses from the killer storm to exceed US $10 billion, Singapore's foreign minister said Monday.
An emergency meeting of foreign ministers from the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations decided that the bloc will work with the UN to hold a donor conference in Rangoon on May 25, Minister George Yeo told reporters. In a major concession after being slammed for blocking foreign aid, Burma also agreed to open its doors to medical teams from all Asean countries, Yeo said.
At least 134,000 people were killed or left missing in the May 2-3 cyclone, and another 2.5 million people are living in poor conditions, most of them without shelter, enough food, drinking water or medical care.
Yeo said the ministerial meeting, which included Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win, agreed to set up an Asean-led task force for redistributing foreign aid. Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuan will go to Burma soon for planning.
"This mechanism will facilitate the effective distribution and utilization of assistance from the international community, including the expeditious and effective deployment of relief workers, especially health and medical personnel," he told a news conference.
"Myanmar [Burma] is also prepared to accept the expertise of international and regional agencies to help in its rehabilitation efforts," Yeo said.
But he indicated that this does not mean the junta will open its doors to foreign experts immediately, which aid agencies and the United Nations say is required immediately.
They say millions of lives are at risk because Burma does not have the infrastructure, expertise and logistics to handle a humanitarian crisis of this magnitude.
Yeo said the task force will consider specific offers of help.
"There will not be an uncontrolled entry of foreign personnel into Myanmar."
Yeo said Nyan Win told the meeting that losses are expected to be "well over US$10 billion."
The bloc hopes to raise funds for Burma at the May 25 meeting and will also work closely with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank on aid packages.
Suggestions that foreign ships carrying aid make a forced entry into Burma were also rejected.
"That will create unnecessary complication. It will only lead to more suffering for Myanmar people," he said.
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| Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo speaks as his counterparts from Thailand, Noppadon Pattama (C) and Burma, Nyan Win, listen during a news conference after a special Asean foreign ministers meeting on Burma in Singapore May 19. (Photo: Reuters) |
At least 134,000 people were killed or left missing in the May 2-3 cyclone, and another 2.5 million people are living in poor conditions, most of them without shelter, enough food, drinking water or medical care.
Yeo said the ministerial meeting, which included Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win, agreed to set up an Asean-led task force for redistributing foreign aid. Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuan will go to Burma soon for planning.
"This mechanism will facilitate the effective distribution and utilization of assistance from the international community, including the expeditious and effective deployment of relief workers, especially health and medical personnel," he told a news conference.
"Myanmar [Burma] is also prepared to accept the expertise of international and regional agencies to help in its rehabilitation efforts," Yeo said.
But he indicated that this does not mean the junta will open its doors to foreign experts immediately, which aid agencies and the United Nations say is required immediately.
They say millions of lives are at risk because Burma does not have the infrastructure, expertise and logistics to handle a humanitarian crisis of this magnitude.
Yeo said the task force will consider specific offers of help.
"There will not be an uncontrolled entry of foreign personnel into Myanmar."
Yeo said Nyan Win told the meeting that losses are expected to be "well over US$10 billion."
The bloc hopes to raise funds for Burma at the May 25 meeting and will also work closely with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank on aid packages.
Suggestions that foreign ships carrying aid make a forced entry into Burma were also rejected.
"That will create unnecessary complication. It will only lead to more suffering for Myanmar people," he said.
