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WORLD> Asia-Pacific
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UN chief strives for cyclone relief for Myanmar
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-22 14:06
He also believed that between 1.6 million and 2.5 million people were severely affected by the cyclone and doubted the number of the homeless. Meanwhile, agreed by Myanmar, an ASEAN-led coordinating mechanism, chaired by Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Surin Pitsuwan, has been established in accordance with the decisions made on Monday's Special Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Singapore. The move is to facilitate the effective distribution and utilization of international assistance for Myanmar cyclone victims and a pledging conference involving the UN is scheduled for Sunday, May 25 in Yangon to raise fund for cyclone-affected victims. As a pre-move, Surin visited Yangon two days ahead of Ban's arrival to take ASEAN's lead in coordinating and liaising with the UN system and international community in assisting Myanmar to recover from cyclone Nargis. Following initial lifting of some restrictions on accepting foreign aid workers, five foreign medics respectively from neighboring Thailand, India, Laos, China and Bangladesh have been allowed in to render direct medical aid to Myanmar cyclone victims. In last weekend, resident representatives of UN agencies, along with those of ASEAN Secretariat and foreign diplomats traveled under government arrangement to relief camps in Dedaye, Kungyangon, Pyapon, Bogalay Maubin, Mawlamyinegyun and Laputta in Yangon and Ayeyawaddy divisions. Days after the cyclone hit Myanmar, international humanitarian aid has been pouring the country with aircraft carrying various relief materials from different countries and organizations landing at the airport one after another for Myanmar's homeless cyclone survivors. Up to now, 27 countries or region, which sent in the aid supplies, include Thailand, China, the United States, Singapore, India, Russia, Italy, Bangladesh, Japan, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Ukraine, Greece, Pakistan, South Korea, Sweden and Australia. International organizations, which provided Myanmar similar relief goods, comprise World Food Program (WFP), World Health Organization (WHO), International Committee for the Red Cross ( ICRC), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Chinese Red Cross and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) among others. Deadly tropical cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states -- Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin -- on May 2 and 3, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon inflicted the heaviest casualties and massive infrastructural damage including religious buildings, schools, hospitals, vessels, animals, crops cultivation, forest and ration. Hard-hit coastal towns in the southwestern Ayeyawaddy division include Haing Gyi Island, Laputta, Mawlamyinegyun, Bogalay, Phyarpon, Kyaiklat, Ngaputaw, and Dedaye, while worst-hit areas in Yangon division include Kungyangon, Thanlyin, Kyauktan, Twantay, Kawmu and the Yangon city. According to an updated official death toll, as many as 77,738 people have been killed with 55,917 still missing, totaling 133, 655 in the disaster. The number of the injured went up to 19,359. |
