ASEAN countries, especially Malaysia, hope the military ruling Myanmar will extend the ceasefire beyond the previously announced period so that relief and recovery efforts can continue after the earthquake.

Following the devastating 7.7magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, the junta announced a three-week ceasefire until April 22.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia and Asean welcomed the announcement of the ceasefire.

He said it needed to be extended, taking into account the extent of the destruction caused by the earthquake and the need for long-term humanitarian assistance, for the security and wellbeing of the people of Myanmar.

“We are very happy with the announcement because in this crisis situation, this country (Myanmar) is facing a catastrophe.

“Do not continue with all the conflicts. The most important thing is how the Myanmar people can be rescued and receive assistance,” he said at a press conference before concluding a humanitarian mission to Myanmar here on Saturday.

Earlier, Mohamad and his Thai counterpart, Maris Sangiampongsa, jointly led a humanitarian aid mission to Myanmar in response to the earthquake that struck the central region of the country and its surrounding areas, claiming thousands of lives.

Mohamad, who is chairman of the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, also expressed hope that the ceasefire could be extended to ensure rescue teams from Malaysia and other Asean countries currently in Myanmar could provide assistance.

“If there are things that we see that could threaten the safety of our teams, I will not hesitate to ask our Asean counterparts to review our presence in Myanmar.”

He also proposed that the humanitarian ceasefire served as a precursor for wider, inclusive dialogue among all Myanmar stakeholders, consistent with the objectives of the Asean’s Five-Point Consensus.

During the mission, Mohamad and Maris held meetings with State Administrative Council chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Myanmar Foreign Minister U Than Shwe.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry, in a statement, said during the meeting, Mohamad, on behalf of Asean, conveyed Asean’s condolences and unwavering support to the people of Myanmar.

“He also reaffirmed Asean’s collective commitment to continue channelling immediate, effective assistance and long-term support for the recovery efforts of the affected communities.”

It added that as part of Malaysia’s commitment to humanitarian assistance, Mohamad handed over 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid upon arrival in the capital here.

The aid was handed over to the Asean Coordinated Relief Centre for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management (AHA Centre), which coordinates Asean’s contributions with Myanmar authorities.

The aid was sent via an Asean-coordinated relief flight operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force from the Asean Disaster Emergency Logistics System warehouse in Subang, Malaysia.

The third flight carrying additional aid is scheduled to arrive here on April 7.

Malaysia’s humanitarian contribution includes an allocation of RM10 million from the government and the deployment of 50 members of the Special Search and Rescue Team of Malaysia (Smart). The team, stationed in the Sagaing region, has provided vital support to the immediate search-and-rescue (SAR) efforts.

Before leaving Myanmar, Mohamad received a briefing from the AHA Centre representative here, who confirmed that the humanitarian operation had shifted from the SAR phase to the recovery phase.

The Foreign Ministry said the humanitarian mission also reaffirmed Asean unity and coordinated regional action, as well as reflected Asean’s strong unity and solidarity, especially in the face of challenging situations. This also demonstrates Asean’s ability to respond swiftly and integratedly in humanitarian crises.

“Malaysia as the Asean chair will continue to work closely with other member states, the AHA Centre and international humanitarian partners to ensure that the assistance delivered is timely.”