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HONG KONG - Asian nations Tuesday joined the international community in offering aid and support for victims of the devastating cyclone in Myanmar, after a rare appeal for help from the reclusive nation's military government.
The reclusive Southeast Asian country, whose rulers normally shun foreign aid, reached out to the world as the death toll climbed to more than 22,000 with 41,000 missing after tropical cyclone Nargis tore through the impoverished nation at the weekend.
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China said it would send US$1 million in emergency aid in batches, some of it in cash, to help reconstruction.
"I believe that the government and people of Myanmar will soon overcome the difficulties caused by the cyclone and restore normal life and production," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in a message to his Myanmar counterpart General Thein Sein.
Wen also expressed sympathy for the Myanmar people and sent his condolences, said the statement, which was posted on the Chinese foreign ministry's website.
China is one of Myanmar's closest political allies and has invested large sums of money to take advantage of its neighbour's energy and mineral assets, while helping to build the country's infrastructure.
Immediate neighbour Thailand airlifted more than US$400,000 worth of food, drinking water and medical supplies, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said.
With the disaster bringing back memories of the 2004 Asian tsunami, Indonesia said it would provide aid worth US$1 million, the Antara news agency reported.
Economic giant Japan offered 28 million yen (US$270,000) in emergency aid including tents, electric power generators and other emergency goods considering the urgency of the situation there and humanitarian aspects to it," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
ASEAN appealed for "generous" international aid for member Myanmar, with Surin Pitsuwan, secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, saying the 10-member grouping has begun to mobilise help through coordination centres in its capitals.
"We are now appealing to all ASEAN governments, the private sector and the civil society... to please respond generously," he told reporters in Singapore.
Surin also called for help from ASEAN's dialogue partners, which include the United States, the European Union, China, Japan and South Korea, as well as from aid organisations and civil society groups worldwide.
Meanwhile Singapore, which has close ties to Myanmar, expressed solidarity and pledged US$200,000 in aid.
"I am deeply saddened to learn about the widespread damage caused by Cyclone Nargis over the weekend," Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo said in a letter, dated Monday, to his Myanmar counterpart Nyan Win.
"My heart goes out to the people of Myanmar who have been affected by the tragedy," Yeo said. "If there is any way Singapore can help, please do not hesitate to let us know."
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said her country was willing to provide aid - but only through UN agencies.
"We really have minimal relations with the government in Myanmar, but we can't stand by and see people affected by this tragedy left helpless. No humane country would," she said.
Australia said it was "ready, willing and able" to send aid, while South Korea announced it would provide Myanmar with emergency materials worth US$100,000.
The Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI was "deeply saddened" by the massive loss of life in Myanmar and urged "generous and effective relief."
Elsewhere around the world, support and offers of assistance were tempered by criticism of Myanmar's rulers for failing to take steps to prevent the horrific death toll.
Washington released an initial sum of US$250,000 towards the relief effort.
However, US First Lady Laura Bush accused Myanmar's rulers of having failed to warn their citizens in time about the approach of the killer cyclone and said Washington was ready to increase its initial emergency outlay.
She declined to give a precise dollar figure, saying the military government first had to allow a US disaster assistance response team into the country.
"I can't speak to how large that would be. But I feel assured that it would be substantial, if we can give it," she said, promising help to provide water, sanitation, food and shelter.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the organisation "will do whatever (necessary) to provide urgent humanitarian assistance," and stressed that a disaster management team was ready to leave for Myanmar.
The European Union also released two million euros (US$3 million) in initial emergency aid. - AFP/ir
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