ASEAN Secretariat, 13 May 2008

An ASEAN Emergency Rapid Assessment Team (ERAT) will be sent to assess the critical needs of the population of Myanmar affected by Cyclone Nargis.  The team is being assembled by the ASEAN Secretariat in coordination with the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) and the Government of Myanmar.

The ASEAN team will comprise experts with specific knowledge in coordination and liaison, water and sanitation, health, logistics and food.  ERAT will be deployed in Yangon to complement the current rapid assessment efforts by the ASEAN Secretariat, the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team and the Government of Myanmar.

Secretary-General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan said, “Following ERAT’s assessment, the teams from the ASEAN Member States will be deployed to Myanmar to provide targeted assistance which supports the capacity of the Government of Myanmar to implement useful and effective aid distribution to the affected population.”

It is expected that ERAT will be mobilised within 48 hours.