ASEAN Press Release: No discriminatory policy towards the media in Burma

(28 June 2008, ASEAN Secretariat) ASEAN does not have a discriminatory policy toward the media or in any other matters. The report in The Irrawaddy titled “Burmese journalists banned from ASEAN Press Conference” dated 25 June 2008 erroneously pointed out that a media conference was held on 24 June 2008 by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan. Dr Surin did not hold a media conference, even with the ASEAN media.

Dr Surin said, “Myanmar was persuaded into inviting the ASEAN media in time to cover the ASEAN Roundtable on the Post Nargis Joint Assessment preliminary report and for the field trip to inspect the extent of the damage and destruction wrought by Cyclone Nargis on the Irrawaddy Delta.”

The Secretary-General of ASEAN said, “The world is still very sceptical of our joint efforts. The international community is very critical of ASEAN and UN engagement with Myanmar even on humanitarian grounds. This has to be balanced; the view cannot be left uncorrected.”

Dr Surin added, “We all share a common concern – to help the Nargis victims. The ASEAN media could play an important role here and indeed, they did play such a role, reporting on the extent of the damage to the Irrawaddy Delta and the needs of the people.”

Press Release: ASEAN S-G views cyclone damaged areas

(ASEAN Secretariat, 26 June 2008) The Secretary-General of ASEAN and Chair of the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, today saw first hand the extent of the damage wrought by Cyclone Nargis on Myanmar. Dr Surin traveled by helicopter to visit the township of Bogale, Set San village and Kyein Chaung Gyi village in the Irrawady Delta.

In Bogale, he was briefed on the extent of the damage to the township and the recovery efforts underway there. He also visited a high school and a hospital. Dr Surin also saw the temporary shelters set up in Set San and Kyein Chaung Gyi to house the victims of Cyclone Nargis as well as the temporary schools set up there.

Dr Surin said, “To see how they suffer is a heartbreak. To observe how they refuse to surrender and their determination to rebuild their lives is certainly an inspiration.”

Dr Surin added, “What ASEAN can do is to help these unfortunate people of the Irrawady Delta get back on their feet quickly. Township-focused, village-based approaches could be appropriate. For reconstruction and long-term integrated planning for the entire Delta, that will have to wait for the international community to come together and decide together.”

The visit was held a day after the 3rd meeting of the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force in Yangon to review the work of the Tripartite Core Group and the next steps forward following the ASEAN Roundtable on Post Nargis Joint Assessment on 24 June 2008. Accompanying Dr Surin during today’s visit were the ASEAN media, who had been invited to cover the meetings and field trip.

Updated Fact Sheet available from USAID/OFDA

The USAID/OCHA Burma Cyclone Fact Sheet #22 is now available to download by clicking here.
To download the accompanying Program Map click here.
Both documents are dated 25th June 2008.

Tripartie Core Group press release available

The Tripartite Core Group (TCG) was formed after the 19 May 2008 ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Singapore, and the 25 May 2008 ASEAN-United Nations International Pledging Conference in Yangon, Myanmar. The TCG aimed to act as an ASEAN-led mechanism to facilitate trust, confidence and cooperation between Myanmar and the international community in the urgent humanitarian relief and recovery work after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar (2 to 3 May 2008). To read their first press release, dated 24 June 2008, click here.

Announcement: U.S. Military Air Lifts to Burma conclude

The US Embassy in Thailand issued the following statement this morning.

"The U.S. military airlift of cyclone relief from Thailand to Burma ended on June 22. Since May 12, Joint Task Force Caring Response flew 185 C-130 sorties from Thailand, carrying tarps, mosquito netting, food, zodiac boats, water treatment equipment, and a range of other relief supplies, including Thai donations. The estimated cost of the supplies and operation is over $13 million USD. The excellent cooperation we received from the Thai side made this relief effort possible. Coordination and cooperation with other donors, including WFP, was also outstanding."

ASEAN Press Release: World Bank grants 850,000USD to Secretariat

The ASEAN Secretariat received a US$850,000-grant from World Bank on Monday for disaster assessment and recovery activities in cyclone-hit Myanmar. Dr Soeung Rathchavy, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN Secretariat and Mr Joachim von Amsberg, Country Director for Indonesia, World Bank signed the grant agreement Monday afternoon. To read the press release, click here.

UN Press Conference: Update on UN humanitarian assistance to Myanmar

The United Nations system in Bangkok will hold a press conference at which officials from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization will speak on the preliminary findings of their recent assessment of Myanmar's agriculture sector in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.

For more information, please contact :
UN Information Services
Tel.: +66-2-288-1861-9; Fax: +66-2-288-1052
Email: unisbkk.unescap@un.org