Singapore gives $150k to support Red Cross donation drive for quake-hit Myanmar and Thailand

SINGAPORE – Singapore will contribute $150,000 as seed money to support the Singapore Red Cross’ (SRC) fund-raising efforts for Myanmar and Thailand, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on March 30, after

a massive earthquake rocked both countries

.

Dr Balakrishnan also expressed Singapore’s deepest condolences for the significant loss of lives and damage in Myanmar and Thailand.

“Singapore stands in solidarity with Asean during this difficult time,” he said in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after he attended a special emergency meeting of Asean foreign ministers in the aftermath of the earthquake.

“Singapore will continue to monitor developments closely, and work with our partners in Asean to assist those affected by the earthquake,” he added.

The meeting was convened by Asean chair Malaysia, and conducted virtually.

The 7.7-magnitude quake on March 28 has killed about 1,700 people in Myanmar and at least 18 in neighbouring Thailand, with the death toll expected to increase.

The Government’s contribution comes on top of the

$150,000 pledged by

SRC on March 29

to support emergency relief efforts in Myanmar and Thailand. A separate public fund-raising appeal was launched by SRC on March 30.

Dr Balakrishnan also supported the proposal for Asean to further expand its assistance to the countries affected, as coordinated by the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).

He said Singapore has

deployed an 80-member Operation Lionheart contingent

to help disaster rescue efforts in Myanmar, and sent three officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force as part of the Asean Emergency Response and Assessment Team under the auspices of AHA Centre.

Dr Balakrishnan also called for an immediate and effective ceasefire in Myanmar, which would facilitate efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance, and longer-term national reconciliation, peace and reconstruction.

Myanmar was already in chaos with a civil war that had escalated since a 2021 military coup that ousted the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and sparked a nationwide armed uprising. The fighting has battered the country, displaced more than 3.5 million people and left essential services, such as healthcare, in tatters.