UNICEF LAUDS MALAYSIA’S TIMELY EARTHQUAKE AID TO MYANMAR, URGES CLIMATE RESILIENCE FOR CHILDREN

By Nabilah Saleh

PUTRAJAYA, May 1 (Bernama) -- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed its appreciation for Malaysia’s swift humanitarian response to the recent earthquake in Myanmar, describing it as timely and impactful in assisting affected communities.

UNICEF’s Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific, June Kunugi, said the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) arrived early on the ground, despite it being the Aidilfitri holiday period, and was among the first to assist in the rescue mission.

“I had worked in Myanmar for three and a half years, so I know many of our staff who were there. Some of them lost their homes and everything.

“Malaysia responded very quickly with the SMART team, and they went in during the festival period and saved lives. There was real gratitude from the people on the ground,” she told Bernama International News Service in an exclusive interview here.

Kunugi said the prompt action by Malaysia, along with response teams from Thailand and China, demonstrated the importance of people-to-people support and the value of ASEAN cooperation in responding to natural disasters.

Kunugi, who previously headed the UNICEF Country and Area Office in Myanmar, expressed gratitude for the support extended noting that such solidarity reflects the importance of regional cooperation in times of crisis.

She expressed gratitude for the support extended not only by Malaysia, but also by Thailand and China, noting that such solidarity reflects the importance of regional cooperation in times of crisis.

In the recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar, a 50-member SMART contingent was deployed to Naypyidaw, engaging in search and rescue operations amid challenging conditions, including aftershocks and infrastructural damage.

The quake resulted in significant devastation, including in Mandalay and surrounding areas, leading to over 1,600 fatalities and more than 3,400 injuries.

The tremors extended beyond Myanmar's borders, causing structural damage and casualties in neighbouring Thailand, notably in Bangkok.

Highlighting the broader impact of climate-related disasters in the region, Kunugi said East Asia and the Pacific are among the hardest hit globally, with two out of three children experiencing four or more extreme climate events annually.

She stated that there is a need for greater investment in climate-resilient infrastructure and services, particularly in sectors that impact children, such as education, health, water, and sanitation.

“This includes building schools that can withstand floods, solarising healthcare facilities, and improving cold chain systems for vaccines,” she said.

Kunugi also noted the education disruptions caused by disasters, citing the example of Typhoon Yagi last year, where schools in parts of Vietnam remained closed for months, delaying children’s return to the classroom.

She added that in emergencies, UNICEF promotes the establishment of child-friendly spaces to provide safety, basic services and psychosocial support.

UNICEF will continue to work with ASEAN member states, including Malaysia, to strengthen preparedness and response measures in the face of increasingly frequent and severe disasters.

“These spaces serve as safe environments for children and families, offering medical care, hygiene facilities and counselling. In crowded or unfamiliar settings, these are critical to ensuring their protection.

“Climate change is here with us, and we must be prepared.

“What Malaysia has shown in Myanmar is not only commendable, but also an example of the kind of leadership and regional cooperation we need moving forward,” said Kunugi, who assumed her role as Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific at the world body in July 2024.

-- BERNAMA