RP sending medical team to Myanmar

Manila Bulletin Thursday, May 8, 2008

As cyclone death toll reaches 22,500; 41,000 missing Senate airs sympathies in resolution

President Arroyo yesterday ordered the sending of a 15-man medical team to Myanmar to help give relief to thousands injured and displaced by a powerful cyclone there last weekend.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Health (DoH) are preparing to send the medical team to Myanmar in the next 48 hours.

Latest report said 22,500 have been killed by the cyclone, while some 41,000 are missing. (See story on Page 19.)


International aid agencies are rushing food, clothes and other supplies to Myanmar to provide relief to the thousands injured and left homeless by the cyclone.

The Philippine medical team will be composed of doctors and medical workers and will bring with them medicines and supplies, Ermita said.

"The DoH said a 15-man team is being prepared and they sent an initial query as to the type of medicines that are needed," Ermita said.

Meanwhile, the Senate, on motion of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., yesterday unanimously approved a resolution calling for the sending by the Philippines of humanitarian aid to Myanmar in the wake of the massive devastation wrought by tropical cyclone Nargis.

The resolution expressed sympathy to the people of Myanmar, which is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"It is incumbent upon us to express our sympathies to the people of Myanmar and urge our government to show these sympathies in a more concrete manner," Pimentel said.

The Senate resolution was supported by Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Richard Gordon.

At the same time, Senator Pimentel urged the Arroyo government to express the country’s concern that the May 10 referendum for the approval of a new Constitution of Myanmar should be free so that the will of the people will be respected.

He made this suggestion in view of reports that Aung San Suu Kyi and other opposition leaders have been barred by the ruling military junta of Myanmar from participating in the public discussions about the issues related to the proposed Constitution.

Reacting to a reminder by some senators that the Philippines should refrain from intervening in the internal political affairs of another country, Pimentel said "the principle of non-interference does not hold water when our neighbor’s house is on fire."

Source