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SINGAPORE : Myanmar needs international aid worth US$1.3 billion over three years to continue relief and recovery efforts in its cyclone-devastated delta.
A joint report by ASEAN, the United Nations and the Myanmar government revealed this at the regional grouping's meeting in Singapore on Monday.
There is no mass starvation and no outbreak of epidemics in Myanmar, according to the findings of the 350-member team who contributed to the report.
"But we have also confirmed that many people remain in desperate need for help," said Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo. This is especially so for urgent needs like food and housing.
Myanmar said it will proceed with its own resources to reconstruct the affected areas.
Nyan Win, Myanmar's Foreign Minister, said: "Increase in international assistance will facilitate our efforts and even shorten the time for achieving full recovery of the people affected by Cyclone Nargis."
The joint report said US$300 million is needed for immediate relief needs.
That is part of the US$4 billion worth of total damage and loss from the humanitarian point of view. ASEAN and UN officials explained it differs from Myanmar's initial assessment of US$11 billion, which was a comprehensive totalling of all damages and loss.
ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan added: "The figure that was presented by the government of Myanmar, to be fair, was not presented to the world as a request, as an appeal. It is just the general accounting of preliminary figures that they have gathered from all parts of the damaged areas."
ASEAN and UN officials have called the assessment a "transparent process", praising the Myanmar government for providing full access to the affected areas.
Going forward, officials said the tripartite assessment will continue for another year while humanitarian aid continues. And what is important is that this report has assured donors that the resources are well-spent and further assistance is fully justified. - CNA/ms
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