ASEAN to raise US$ 103 million for post-Nargis activities

by Usa Pichai
Friday, 02 October 2009 21:18

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Tripartite Core Group will raise US$ 103 million for Post-Nargis Humanitarian Activities, even as it has established an “ASEAN Cooperation Fund for Emergency Relief” to respond to multiple disasters like the region has faced recently.

The ASEAN Secretariat in a press statement on Friday said, that it has decided to hold a post-Nargis Assistance Conference (PONAC) to raise more funds to address critical needs for Cyclone Nargis survivors. The statement came after the first Recovery Forum meeting held in Rangoon, when the Tripartite Core Group (TCG) reviewed the funding situation for post-Nargis recovery activities.

The forum aims to discuss policy and strategic issues related to the recovery process. The parleys will be with donors, international and national organizations including UN agencies, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, non-governmental organisations, government ministries at the operational level, and the private sector.

Kyaw Thu, Chairman of the Civil Service Selection and Training Board and Chairman of the TCG, at the opening of the forum called for support for PONAC and highlighted the need for support beyond July 2010, the current mandate of the TCG.

He said, “While we must focus our efforts on the next nine months, we must not forget that recovery in the Irrawaddy Delta will continue after the TCG’s mandate comes to an end in July 2010. The Recovery Forum must begin to think of a transition strategy to ensure that recovery efforts beyond July 2010 continue to be supported.”

The PONAC, a high-level forum bringing together partners to discuss progress and outstanding critical needs in Nargis affected areas, aims to mobilise US$ 103 million to tackle critical gaps in five sectors: education; health; livelihood; shelter; and water, sanitation and hygiene.

Bishow Parajuli, U.N. representative in Burma said that, “After the initial generous funding response from the donor community, new money to support the three year Post Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan has only just begun trickling into the Delta. There is an urgent need to quickly inject US$ 103 million to the affected communities in the Delta with urgent critical needs. Support from the international community remains crucial.”

On Thursday, The ASEAN Secretariat has also established an “ASEAN Cooperation Fund for Emergency Relief” to respond to the multiple disasters, according to the group’s statement.

Recently ASEAN countries were lashed by tropical storm Ketsana which hit Philippines on 26 September, resulting in 300 deaths and displacing two million people. The storm also created havoc in Vietnam and in Cambodia. Reports indicate that two more storms are developing in the Pacific Ocean, of which the first is expected to hit the Philippines again.

In addition, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale hit the West Sumatra province of Indonesia on 30 September 2009, killing several hundred people. The number is expected to increase as thousands of people are missing. This was followed by a second earthquake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale in Jambi, also on the Sumatera Island.

The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, which has been monitoring the situation closely, has put on standby the ASEAN Emergency Rapid Assessment Team for deployment to the affected areas. Several ASEAN countries, such as Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, have indicated that it would mobilise personnel to join ERAT. Thailand sent the first medical relief team to Indonesia with medical supplies on Friday.