Vietnam Army ready to send forces to participate in earthquake relief in Myanmar

Buildings destroyed after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar. (Photo: THX/TTXVN)

On the afternoon of March 29, in Hanoi , the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army held a conference on sending forces ready to participate in relief, search and rescue, and overcoming the consequences of the earthquake in Myanmar.

At the conference, a representative of the Department of Search and Rescue (General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army) informed that at noon on March 28, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred in central Myanmar, causing at least 10 aftershocks, ranging from 2.8 to 7.5. The consequences left thousands dead and injured. Currently, 4 countries (China, India, Russia and Malaysia) have sent forces to support Myanmar.

Faced with this urgent situation, the Minister of National Defense has directed the General Staff to organize forces that, after receiving approval from the Central Government, will be ready to go to Myanmar to assist in overcoming the consequences.

Implementing the direction of the superiors, the Department of Rescue and Relief has presided over and coordinated with relevant agencies and units to organize the development of plans and establish a force to participate in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief of the Vietnam People's Army in Myanmar, consisting of 79 soldiers, including: Command force, information and propaganda force, rescue force (including rescue force, search and rescue force of the Engineering Command and training force, service dogs of the Border Guard Command) and medical force.

The overall commander of the force is Colonel Pham Hai Chau, Deputy Director of the Department of Rescue and Relief. The equipment will be carefully calculated to ensure it is suitable, compact and effective, drawing on experience from the rescue mission in Turkey. It is expected that the team will be able to depart on the afternoon of March 30.

According to the plan, the General Department of Logistics and Engineering will coordinate with the Military Department to organize forces and vehicles ready to carry out the mission; focus on ensuring logistics and technology for the search and rescue forces and ensuring relief goods for the neighboring country. At the same time, the Foreign Affairs Department will deploy support work on immigration and exit procedures; coordinate with the Air Defense - Air Force and civil airlines to organize the delivery of task forces, equipment and relief goods to the epicenter in Myanmar.

Chairing the conference, Senior Lieutenant General Huynh Chien Thang, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, stated that sending the Vietnam People's Army to participate in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in Myanmar demonstrates the high responsibility of the Party, State and people of Vietnam towards the international community; affirming the prestige, sense of responsibility and capacity of the Vietnam People's Army in international relations and cooperation.

Senior Lieutenant General Huynh Chien Thang requested the Department of Search and Rescue to coordinate closely and urgently with relevant agencies and units, propose work contents that need to be implemented, and resolve procedural issues and preparations as quickly as possible, including issues of air transport, relief goods, logistics, communication, safety issues... so that the task force can depart soon.

In addition, relevant agencies and units carefully prepare vehicles and technical equipment, prioritizing dual-purpose, easy-to-maneuver, and portable vehicles; ensure good logistics, supplies, goods, and aid... Senior Lieutenant General Huynh Chien Thang also reminded the task force to focus on resolving relationships and coordinating with international forces, authorities, and local people; promote the good qualities of the Vietnam People's Army, leaving a good impression in the hearts of international friends and the people of Myanmar.

With experience from relief activities in Türkiye in 2023, units of the Vietnam People's Army have clearly identified their spirit and responsibility and are ready to set off to carry out their missions as soon as ordered./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/quan-doi-viet-nam-san-sang-cu-luc-luong-tham-gia-cuu-tro-dong-dat-tai-myanmar-post1023562.vnp