Asia-Pacific rallies round Myanmar

Rescue and medical teams from across the Asia-Pacific region are continuing relief and search operations in Myanmar, helping the nation recover from Friday's devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake.

The disaster killed 2,056 people in Myanmar as of noon on Monday, injured about 3,900, with 270 missing, and sent violent tremors to nearby Thailand.

India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam sent emergency response teams to Myanmar soon after the quake, while the Philippine disaster response team will arrive on Tuesday.

Japan has dispatched an assessment team and will provide emergency relief supplies to those affected by the earthquake through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Timor-Leste held an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss humanitarian aid to Myanmar.

They agreed to strengthen relief and recovery efforts through the ASEAN Standby Arrangements and member states' contributions.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, this year's rotating chair of ASEAN, conveyed Malaysia's condolences and pledged to distribute 10 million ringgit ($2.25 million) in humanitarian aid to Myanmar citizens affected by the tragedy.

In a message posted to his social media account Sunday, Anwar said he had directed Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan to lead a humanitarian mission to Myanmar this week. He had also called Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to express his deepest condolences and sympathy, Anwar said.

In the Thai capital of Bangkok, the death toll has hit 19, rescuers said on Monday.

The earthquake — measured as a magnitude 7.9 by the China Earthquake Network Center and a magnitude 7.7 by US authorities — is the strongest the region has experienced in nearly 200 years. The last temblor of a similar scale was recorded in the 1830s.

India said it had dispatched 15 metric tons of relief items by aircraft to Yangon, including ready-to-eat meals, blankets and generator sets. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had also sent four naval ships with relief supplies.

Australia will provide an initial A$2 million ($1.25 million) to Myanmar through the International Committee of the Red Cross, or ICRC. The funding will help the ICRC carry out immediate lifesaving support, such as addressing emergency medical needs.

Canberra also welcomed the release of $5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to support urgent needs such as shelter, food and water.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on Sunday that the kingdom would provide Myanmar with $100,000 in initial emergency assistance.

The United Arab Emirates also has expressed its sympathies and solidarity with the governments and peoples of Myanmar and Thailand, and the families of the victims.

In a statement on Saturday, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari offered condolences for the loss of human lives and affirmed support for those affected.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also offered Pakistan's assistance to Myanmar and Thailand, saying "our thoughts and prayers are with the people of both countries as they pass through this difficult time".

Cui Haipei in Dubai, Jiang Xueqing in Tokyo, Xin Xin in Sydney and Xu Weiwei in Hong Kong contributed to this story.

prime@chinadailyapac.com