ASEAN SECRETARIAT RECEIVES WB GRANT FOR MYANMAR CYCLONE RESPONSE

Jakarta, June 17 (ANTARA) - The ASEAN Secretariat received a US$850,000-grant from the World Bank today (Tuesday) for disaster assessment and recovery activities in cyclone-hit Myanmar, it was reported here Tuesday.

Dr Soeung Rathchavy, Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN Secretariat and Mr Joachim von Amsberg, Country Director for Indonesia, World Bank signed the grant agreement on Tuesday afternoon.

The grant from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery is to support ASEAN's leadership role in the humanitarian efforts in Myanmar, a press release from the ASEAN Secretariat said.

Under the grant, the World Bank would fund US$850,000 to strengthen the capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat in the coordination of international response and senior-level dialogue on recovery planning as well as training of ASEAN technical staff in damage and loss assessment.

"We would like to thank the World Bank who is among the first few agencies to have come forward to extend assistance to Myanmar through ASEAN," Dr Rathchavy said.

Besides the grant, the World Bank has sent their technical experts to Myanmar to assist with the Post Nargis Joint Assessment and recovery planning.