Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn takes part in a conference held virtually on Wednesday to promote humanitarian assistance to Myanmar. — VNA/VNS Photo 

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam understands the difficulties that the country and people of Myanmar are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and hopes that ASEAN countries, partners and the international community will work together to help Myanmar and its people overcome the challenges.

Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn made the statement during a conference to promote humanitarian assistance to Myanmar held virtually on Wednesday.

Sơn welcomed the timely organisation of this event, saying it was an important step to implement the five-point consensus reached at a meeting of ASEAN leaders in April this year.

The Foreign Minister appreciated the contributions of ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance of ASEAN and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) relating to the issue.

Việt Nam is committed to providing initial support to Myanmar with medical supplies worth US$100,000, he said.

ASEAN countries and partners also pledged about $9 million to assist the country.

At the conference, the ASEAN Secretariat and AHA Centre presented a humanitarian assistance strategy for Myanmar. It is divided into two phases including 'lifesaving' humanitarian assistance, focusing on COVID-19 pandemic response, and implementing humanitarian assistance measures to 'stabilise life'.

Humanitarian support activities for Myanmar will be led by ASEAN. The ASEAN Secretary-General and the AHA Centre will be responsible for receiving and coordinating assistance from ASEAN countries, partners and the international community, ensuring that these aids are distributed in a timely, efficient and transparent manner to the people of Myanmar.

In the near future, ASEAN will focus on the first phase. Specifically, it will mobilise supplies of vaccines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and related items for Myanmar. The first aid shipment is expected to arrive in the country before August 31.

An ASEAN Coordinating Group will be set up and stationed in Yangon to supervise and assist in the effective coordination and transfer of medical support to the local people. 

ASEAN will also survey real demand to promptly make appropriate adjustments in the implementation of the following steps, as well as preparing for the second phase of the strategy, which is expected to be conducted next year. — VNS