Asean to handle foreign aid for Myanmar cyclone victims

Singapore: Southeast Asia's regional bloc will set up a task force to handle distribution of foreign aid for cyclone victims in Myanmar, which estimates losses from the killer storm to exceed US$10 billion, Singapore's foreign minister said on Monday.

An emergency meeting of foreign ministers from the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations decided that the bloc will work with the UN to hold a donor conference in Yangon on May 25, Minister George Yeo told reporters.

In a major concession after being slammed for blocking foreign aid, Myanmar also agreed to open its doors to medical teams from all Asean countries, Yeo said.

At least 134,000 people were killed or left missing in the May 2-3 cyclone, and another 2.5 million people are living in poor conditions, most of them without shelter, enough food, drinking water or medical care.

Yeo said the ministerial meeting, which included Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win, agreed to set up an Asean-led task force for redistributing foreign aid. Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuan will go to Myanmar soon for planning.

"This mechanism will facilitate the effective distribution and utilization of assistance from the international community, including the expeditious and effective deployment of relief workers, especially health and medical personnel," he told a news conference.

"Myanmar is also prepared to accept the expertise of international and regional agencies to help in its rehabilitation efforts," Yeo said.

But he indicated that this does not mean the junta will open its doors to foreign experts immediately, which aid agencies and the United Nations say is required immediately.

They say millions of lives are at risk because Myanmar does not have the infrastructure, expertise and logistics to handle a humanitarian crisis of this magnitude.

Yeo said the task force will consider specific offers of help.

"There will not be an uncontrolled entry of foreign personnel into Myanmar."

Yeo said Nyan Win told the meeting that losses are expected to be "well over US$10 billion."

The bloc hopes to raise funds for Myanmar at the May 25 meeting and will also work closely with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank on aid packages.

Suggestions that foreign ships carrying aid make a forced entry into Myanmar were also rejected.

"That will create unnecessary complication. It will only lead to more suffering for the people of Myanmar" he said.