Asia-Pacific News
Philippine leader sends off humanitarian mission to Myanmar
May 26, 2008, 4:10 GMT
Manila - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday dispatched a 30-member humanitarian mission to help with relief efforts in cyclone-ravaged Myanmar for two weeks.
An Air Force C-130 cargo plane would fly the team and 300,000 dollars of relief goods to Yangon via Bangkok, Arroyo said.
'The Philippines knows by heart the tragedy that such calamities bring,' she said. 'We also know how the kindness of the international community and private individuals can positively assist and uplift the spirit of the people in the affected areas.'
The leader of the Philippines, which is struck every year by numerous typhoons, organized the humanitarian mission as early as May 7, but the team was not initially given travel documents by Myanmar's reclusive junta.
On Friday, the junta relented to international pressure and agreed to allow international aid workers to enter the country after a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
International aid agencies said at least 2 million people were in badly need of medicines, food, water and shelter after Cyclone Nargis pummelled the central coast of Myanmar May 2-3, leaving more than 133,000 people dead or missing.
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