Today (18/8) the European Union (EU) highlights its response to assist those in need in Myanmar in the context of the humanitarian crisis.

At the Pledging Conference to ASEAN’s Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar held by videoconference, EU announced that it is providing through the current EU-SAHA (EU Support to AHA Centre) programme, up to €370,000 for activities related to strengthen the capacity of the AHA Centre and ASEAN Emergency Response Mechanism in Myanmar, for example through funding of per diem costs and related activities.

This support comes as part of a long standing EU funding to reinforce the capacity of ASEAN and the AHA Centre to respond to disasters in the region. This €10 million EU-SAHA programme, launched at the beginning of 2020, supports the AHA Centre’s Capacity and the ASEAN’s Emergency Response Mechanisms. This initiative aims at enhancing mechanisms for ASEAN Leadership to Respond-As-One, through excellence and innovation in disaster management.

For 2021, the EU allocated so far a total amount of €22.5 million for humanitarian assistance in Myanmar, including regional implications of the crisis. The EU will also continue to share experience and exchange with the AHA Centre on the operational landscape in Myanmar and the sub-region.

EU Ambassador to ASEAN Igor Driesmans said: “The European Union is committed to provide assistance to tackle the humanitarian crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar. The European Union has welcomed the appointment of the ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar, Brunei’s Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof. And we support ASEAN’s efforts in finding a peaceful solution to the current crisis and stress the need to implement quickly and faithfully the five-point consensus adopted by ASEAN Leaders at their summit on 24 April 2021. Humanitarian assistance by ASEAN and the AHA Centre is one of those five points”.

In the context of the current humanitarian crisis, the EU fully supports today’s international mobilisation for the many people in need in Myanmar. We welcome the contributions announced and we share ASEAN’s view that this assistance should be in line with humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and embedded in the UN-led coordination architecture.

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