ASEAN appeals for more international assistance for Myanmar cyclone survivors

A high-ranking ASEAN official has urged the international community to continue support and fulfill the humanitarian needs for the cyclone-affected survivors, Xinhua reported.
  Dr. Soeung Rathchavy, Deputy Secretary-General of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for Socio- Cultural Community, made the remarks during her commemorative visit to Myanmar cyclone-hit Ayeyarwaddy delta on Saturday, according to a press release here Sunday..
  She stressed the important role of the ASEAN-Myanmar-UN Tripartite Core Group (TCG) for a close and effective partnership within the group, particularly as the recovery phase has started.
  "It is heartening to see that relief and early recovery assistance has reached the people affected by Cyclone Nargis," she said, calling for intensification of relief and recovery efforts, especially when the monsoon is approaching.
  To ensure the villagers have access to permanent shelter, drinking water and sanitation and to restore their livelihoods, another ASEAN volunteer project will be implemented in Laputta Township this month, she disclosed.
  During the trip, she met with the cyclone survivors in the delta and donated school bags and T-shirts for the school children and villagers in cyclone-hard hit Bogalay, Phyapon and Kungyangon townships.
  Together with TCG members, she also donated 70 fishing boats to villagers in Tha Htay Gone Village of Bogalay township and inaugurated a newly-reconstructed bridge which was destroyed during the storm in Tha Leik Gyi Village of Phyapon township.
  Meanwhile, The ASEAN and TCG are currently conducting the second periodic review to monitor humanitarian needs on the ground and implementing three-year Post-Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan which aims to restore productive, healthy and protected lives for Cyclone Nargis survivors.
  Deadly tropical cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states of Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin on May 2 and 3 last year, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon inflicted the heaviest casualties and massive infrastructure damage.
  The storm killed 84,537 people, left 53,836 missing and 19,359 others injured according to official figures.