Myanmar parliament approves to sign int'l agreement on disaster relief

Myanmar's parliament has approved the country taking part in the signing of an international agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Russia on disaster relief, Myanmar News Agency reported Wednesday.

The Agreement on Cooperation in Natural Disaster Early Warning and Mitigation represents an extension of the previous pact addressing political, security, education, economic and development between ASEAN and Russia.

Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Win Myat Aye told the parliament that the agreement would enable Myanmar to respond more effectively to natural disaster in the future, adding it will further boost natural disaster emergency response and relief, and exchange of information on mitigation against natural disaster between ASEAN and Russia.

Myanmar, lying in the middle of Himalaya region, Indochina and Malay Peninsula, is one of the world's most bio-diverse nations, but its environment is under threat from global warming and human development.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)