Asia
Myanmar seeks international help as COVID bites
Junta authorities in Myanmar are seeking help from the international community to tackle the coronavirus, state media said Wednesday, as the impoverished country looks beyond ally China in its struggle to beat back a new wave.
The nation has been in turmoil since the military took power in February, with many hospitals ill-equipped to cope with a surging caseload after many medical staff walked out in protest at the coup.
Stay-at-home orders affecting millions have failed to halt the surge, with crematoriums working at capacity and volunteers working to bring out the bodies of people who have died in their homes.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing told a “coordination meeting to beef up cooperation with the international community” that Myanmar should seek money from a COVID-19 response fund set up by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Efforts were being made to work with ASEAN “and friendly countries”, the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported, without giving details.
Just under 5,000 new cases of Covid-19 were reported Wednesday — up from around 50 per day in early May — but analysts say the real toll is likely much higher.
Around 1.75 million people have so far been vaccinated according to the State Administration Council — as the junta dubs itself — out of a population of 54 million.
Last week a batch of donated Sinopharm doses arrived from China, junta authorities said, but they would be prioritised for those living along the China-Myanmar border.
China has also supplied more than 10,000 shots to a rebel group operating near its southern frontier in Myanmar, as Beijing seeks to halt an influx of cases from the coup-wracked country.
The junta has ordered a total of four million vaccine doses from China, it said earlier this month, and Beijing will donate a further two million.
A shipment of 1.5 million doses also arrived from India earlier this year.
— AFP
-
Singapore6 days ago
Purported resignation message from Li Hongyi as Singpass director goes viral; GovTech yet to confirm authenticity
-
Community4 days ago
PAP MP Edward Chia: ‘Sanctions on Israel do not work’ when confronted by Holland-Bukit Timah resident
-
Singapore6 days ago
Lee Hsien Yang alleges rising repression and corruption in Singapore; government calls claims a ‘personal vendetta
-
Comments2 weeks ago
8World News anchor Zhang Haijie faces criticism for labelling Lee Hsien Yang as ‘unfilial son’
-
Politics2 weeks ago
Singapore govt accuses Lee Hsien Yang of creating ‘false urgency’ over 38 Oxley Road demolition
-
Opinion1 week ago
Where does Lee Hsien Loong stand on the future of 38 Oxley Road as the government revisits the issue?
-
Politics1 week ago
Charles Yeo claims Singapore is seeking his extradition from UK; AGC remains silent
-
Opinion2 weeks ago
Where is the iron in Lawrence Wong? Hiding from direct response to Lee Hsien Yang?