The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced on Tuesday that it is preparing a 3-million-U.S.-dollar grant to assist those affected by the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28. The grant, set for expedited approval by the ADB Board of Directors, will be delivered through the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). It aims to address immediate humanitarian needs by providing in-kind food, as well as multi-purpose cash assistance to help purchase essential items like drinking water, medical supplies, and shelter materials.
The funding will be sourced from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, which is designed to quickly allocate grants for life-saving relief following major natural disasters. The ADB highlighted that the earthquake has compounded Myanmar’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, further exacerbating the challenges faced by its people.
Winfried Wicklein, Director General for Southeast Asia at ADB, stated that the bank would explore additional support through its Asian Development Fund’s community development resources to assist Myanmar in the coming months.
