JAKARTA, 18 August 2021 – The Pledging Conference to Support ASEAN’s Humanitarian Assistance in Myanmar hosted by the Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi raised the equivalent of almost USD 8 million in monetary pledges and in-kind contributions of medicine, medical supplies and equipment to assist the country in containing the spread and infection of the COVID-19 virus. The conference was held online today.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dato Lim Jock Hoi highlighted the disconcerting situation in Myanmar, particularly with regard to the COVID-19 situation. In his capacity as the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator, Dato Lim Jock Hoi called for a strong show of support for the people of Myanmar, in the spirit of ‘One ASEAN, One Response’. He underscored that the success of ASEAN’s mission “hinges on the collective support amongst ASEAN Member States and partners, and also on our ability to work hand-in-hand with our partners and friends, including the UN Agencies, the IFRC and the ICRC.”
This sense of urgency was echoed by the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, who called for ASEAN and its external partners to extend a helping hand to Myanmar in mitigating the effects of the pandemic. He remarked that ASEAN’s humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar is “a true manifestation of the ‘ASEAN Way’ to help our brothers and sisters in need, due to the recent developments and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) to Myanmar, Ms. Christine Schraner Burgener, spoke on behalf of UNSG Antonio Guterres. In her recorded statement, she said “UN humanitarian actors on the ground led by the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator will work to strengthen cooperation and seek complementarity with ASEAN’s AHA Centre.”
ASEAN Member States and external partners, which were represented by their respective foreign ministers and senior representatives, attended the pledging conference together with representatives of United Nations agencies and IFRC and ICRC.
ASEAN’s operational plan led by the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) will focus firstly on life-saving measures through the provision of medical supplies and COVID-19 vaccines, and thereafter proceeding to address life-sustaining priorities of broader humanitarian needs. ASEAN’s humanitarian assistance will be supported by humanitarian partners in Myanmar.
This initiative contributes to the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus agreed at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in April this year.
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Mr Romeo Arca, Jr.
Head of Community Relations Division
The ASEAN Secretariat
