Fletcher: All parties must fulfill their obligations to protect civilians
New York, April 1 (Hibya) – UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher stated that all parties must fulfill their obligations to protect civilians.
Fletcher thanked UN and other humanitarian teams responding to the Myanmar earthquake.
He said search and rescue teams had been deployed, adding: “The UNCERF Emergency Response Fund allocated $5 million for the response, and the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund is supporting local partners assisting communities.”
Fletcher noted that the response was hampered by lack of funding and damage to communications and transport infrastructure:
“We are in contact with authorities about how the international community can do more. We need safe, unrestricted access. All parties must fulfill their obligations to protect civilians. Over 1,700 deaths. The humanitarian situation was already dire.”
He added that around 20 million people are in need of assistance due to conflict, hunger, lack of public services, and economic turmoil. “Women and girls are disproportionately affected by such disasters,” he said.
Albania News Agency
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