SINGAPORE : Myanmar has agreed to let ASEAN send in its medical teams as well as coordinate international aid for its cyclone victims. The decision came after an emergency meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Singapore.
Myanmar had put the damage from the cyclone at over US$10 billion.
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Concern has been rising for the estimated 2.5 million left homeless after Cyclone Nargis wreaked havoc more than two weeks ago.
At the special foreign ministers meeting in Singapore, Myanmar finally agreed to an international aid effort led by its Southeast Asian neighbours.
The foreign ministers agreed to establish an ASEAN-led coordinating mechanism which will draw on Indonesia's 2004 tsunami experience. It will facilitate foreign aid disbursement and deployment of relief workers like medical personnel.
A task force led by ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan will work with the UN and a coordinating body from Myanmar
For a start, the Myanmar government has agreed to immediately accept medical teams from all ASEAN countries - some of which are already in the cyclone-stricken nation.
ASEAN also warned potential donors that "international assistance given to Myanmar... through ASEAN, should not be politicised."
When asked about the delay, Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo who chairs the special meeting, said given the magnitude of the disaster and the decisions taken by the Yangon government, it was better later than never.
Pressed on the issue of whether foreign aid workers would be let in, Mr Yeo said there would not be uncontrolled entry of foreign personnel. Immediate aid, however, would be provided through ASEAN.
"A detailed mechanism will be established so that aid can be sent to Myanmar through channels which are open for this purpose. It does not make sense... to force aid on them. (It) will lead to unnecessary complications and more suffering for the Myanmar people. So it's not a course of action that finds favour among us in ASEAN," said Mr Yeo.
There were many questions too for Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win after the ASEAN news conference. On the issue of delays in international aid reaching his people, he said his government did accept aid but started with neighbouring countries first.
"We never argued against international assistance to the country. I addressed (this in my) speech to the diplomatic corps in Yangon, and I offered that international assistance is always welcome. Thailand (came) and assisted our people on 6 May. After that, we have received international assistance daily, said the Myanmar foreign minister.
As for the difficulty aid workers faced in getting visas, Nyan Win said his government will issue them if need arises.
Meanwhile, an ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference will be held in Yangon on May 25 to raise funds for Myanmar.
Meanwhile, an ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference, where countries can pledge what they can do to help, will be held in Yangon this Sunday, May 25th. - CNA /ls
