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UN says it is mobilizing after major earthquake in Southeast Asia; Myanmar among hardest hit
Summary
The United Nations said it is mobilizing resources to assist countries hit by a destructive earthquake in Southeast Asia, and that UN teams are already in contact with Myanmar after a request for international support.
The United Nations said it is mobilizing to help victims of a major earthquake in parts of Southeast Asia, with Myanmar identified as the epicenter and among the countries most in need.
The United Nations Secretary-General told reporters "the government of Myanmar has asked for international support, and our team in Myanmar is already in contact in order to fully mobilize our resources in the region to support the people of Myanmar." He added that other countries were impacted but said "the epicenter is in Myanmar" and that Myanmar is "the weakest country in this present situation."
Why it matters: the secretary-general said UN teams are coordinating an international response after the government of Myanmar requested assistance. No further operational or funding details were provided in the briefing.
In response to a follow-up question asking whether the UN had an active team in Myanmar, the secretary-general replied in the affirmative. He did not provide a detailed breakdown of personnel, specific aid being deployed, or timelines during the briefing.
