New Batch of Humanitarian Team to Myanmar Ready says OCD

THE Office of Civil Defense said that they are ready to redeploy a new batch of humanitarian teams to Myanmar, which was shaken by a Magnitude 7.7 earthquake leaving thousands dead.

OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno made the announcement during the Civil Defense in Action newscast of the agency at Facebook.

“Kapag dumating ang oras na kailangan pa Myanmar ng tulong beyond April 1-April 12 na initial plan, ay pwedeng magpadala kami ng bagong team o mga miyembro para palitan ang mga nasa Myanmar. Ang initial plan ay ibalik dito ang 89 man team para iwasan na magkaroon ng fatigue o trauma,” Nepomuceno said.

Likewise, Nepomuceno said that they are ready to assist in the repatriation of Filipinos in Myanmar.

“Handa naman ang ating C-130 ng Philippine Air Force na dalhin sila sa Pilipinas kung kailangan, pero voluntary dapat. If may nauna na gaya noong three days ago, sasabay na sana isang Francisco Torres. Minabuti niya na sa April 12 na lang na pag pabalik Pilipinas ang team siya sasabay,” Napomuceno said.

“If may kailangan pa may 80 na Pilipino na nasa maselang lugar ay nag-request sila dalhin sa safe na lugar, handa kami umalalay lalo na kung may gusto repatriate handa kami isabay,” he added.  

Meanwhile, the OCD said that they remain hopeful that the four Filipinos missing in Myanmar following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake on March 28 will soon be found alive. 

“We wish for our humanitarian contingent in Myanmar to locate our kababayans, who are believed to be trapped in the rubble of the Sky Villa. However, we must adhere to the directives of Myanmar authorities and follow their operational plans. Urban search and rescue teams from Myanmar, Vietnam, Russia, and China are currently assigned to the Sky Villa area,” the OCD said in a statement.

On April 3, members of the Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent recovered a deceased individual from the collapsed Jade City Hotel and Entertainment Complex in Nay Pyi Taw. The victim, identified as the head waiter of Jade City and already in a state of decomposition, has been turned over to Myanmar authorities.

“We ask for the public’s prayers for our missing kababayans. Please be assured that the Department of Foreign Affairs, the defense attaché in the area, the Department of Migrant Workers, and our rescue teams are working closely with Myanmar authorities to locate our countrymen. We also appreciate your prayers for the success of our humanitarian mission to alleviate the suffering in Myanmar,” Nepomuceno said.

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