Myanmar earthquake: Intensified int’l efforts for disaster relief
Japan will dispatch a team of medical personnel to Myanmar to provide emergency assistance in response to the devastating earthquake that struck the Southeast Asian nation last week.
Humanitarian aid to be sent to victims of the earthquake in Myanmar, as seen at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, on March 31. (Photo: Antara)
Hanoi (VNA)♉ - Japan will dispatch a team of medical personnel to Myanmar to provide emergency assistance in response to the devastating earthquake that struck the Southeast Asian nation last week.
Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi on April 1 said the 32-member group is set to leave Tokyo on early April 2.
Previously, the government has sent 240 waterproof sheets and 450 tents to stricken areas after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the central part of Myanmar.
It is also preparing to swiftly provide hygiene products, water, water purifiers and other supplies through the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the United Nations.
Iwaya said the government will continue to provide as much humanitarian assistance as possible to help people in Myanmar.
The same day, The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it is preparing a 3-million-USD grant to support the emergency and humanitarian needs of the people of Myanmar affected by the earthquake.
The grant will be provided through the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to meet immediate needs through the distribution of in-kind food and multi-purpose cash assistance to purchase essential items, such as drinking water, medical supplies, and shelter.
The grant will come from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, which provides fast-tracked grants to ADB's developing members for life-saving purposes in the immediate aftermath of major disasters triggered by natural hazards.
Meanwhile, the National Alms Agency (Baznas) of Indonesia is sending humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Myanmar.
The first aid shipment prepared by Baznas includes 100 generators, 50 tents, 10,000 sarongs, and 5,000 packages each of women's essentials and children's necessities. The volume of aid sent will continue to increase periodically according to the needs at the disaster location.
Baznas plans to send toys from the sponsors to offer psychological relief to children affected by the disaster. The Baznas medical team is also participating in this mission by bringing medicines and health workers to help victims who need treatment.
Previously, Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence has dispatched 12 tonnes of humanitarian aid via a Hercules aircraft to support earthquake victims in Myanmar. To support the relief efforts, the ministry has deployed 39 personnel, including pilots and special forces members. Their mission includes providing medical treatment, establishing refugee shelters, and searching for missing victims./.
Malaysia is not situated along the collision zone of major tectonic plates, but several minor tremors have been recorded in certain areas over recent decades.
A 6.0-magnitude earthquake occurred at 5:15 pm, with its epicenter located 93 km northeast of Indonesia's Maluku Barat Daya district and a hypocenter at a depth of 157 km beneath the seabed. No tsunami warning has been issued.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security’s rescue team is working tirelessly, making the most of every moment in the hope of finding survivors, despite immense difficulties.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
