Asean Tribune

Six months since the military’s seizure of power, aid agencies are warning of a spiralling humanitarian catastrophe in Myanmar triggered by skyrocketing Covid-19 cases and widespread violence in the country. Over 60 per cent of reported deaths from Covid-19 in Myanmar have occurred in the past month alone, with the number of confirmed cases doubling in the last two months.

While the country is still reeling from the shockwaves of the military takeover, communities in Kayah State and the eastern Bago region – which have witnessed mass displacement in recent months – must now contend with hundreds of Covid-19 cases a day. Healthcare facilities from Kachin to Mandalay to Yangon remain shuttered as healthcare workers face violence and threats. More than 400 doctors and 180 nurses have been given arrest warrants since the military takeover in February 2021.

“The communities we work with are desperate and dying. A third wave of Covid-19 is crashing down on Myanmar, unleashing yet another trauma for its people. The population needs safe and fair access to humanitarian aid and health care now,” said Laura Marshall, Country Director for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Myanmar.

Lockdown measures, travel restrictions, bureaucratic impediments and insecurity are hampering humanitarian service delivery. Humanitarian workers and their families have themselves fallen gravely ill as aid agencies are forced to operate at reduced capacity.

The failure to stop the spread of this deadly disease threatens to drive millions of already at-risk families into further need. Pregnant women and other vulnerable groups face new obstacles in reaching essential care and basic services. Cases of food insecurity and indebtedness are expected to climb significantly in the coming months, especially given rising food prices, job losses and currency depreciation.

While humanitarian assistance and medical care is urgently needed to save lives today, a rapidly expanded vaccination program is required to move the country out of this crisis. Unfortunately, only 3.6 million vaccine doses are expected to be allocated through COVAX, a drop in the ocean for the country’s population of 54.4 million.

As aid agencies operating in Myanmar, we call on political leaders to do everything possible to assist the people of Myanmar in their hour of need. Their actions should include the immediate implementation of the ASEAN five-point consensus, agreed in April, to rapidly scale up aid and vaccination for all across Myanmar. In addition, we call for an end to attacks on healthcare and for all parties to engage in dialogue which allows for urgent access to assistance to those who require it.

Signatories:

1. ActionAid
2. DanChurchAid – Norwegian Church Aid
3. Danish Refugee Council
4. Finnish Refugee Council
5. HelpAge International
6. Helvetas
7. MA-UK
8. Mercy Corps
9. Norwegian Refugee Council
10. People in Need
11. Save the Children
12. Solidarités International
13. Trócaire
14. Voluntary Service Overseas
15. Welthungerhilfe
16. World Vision

 

 

Source: World Vision

REGIONAL SUMMARY:

For the thirtieth (30 th) week of 2021, a total of 9 disasters (5 floods, 1 landslide, 2 storms, and 1 wind-related) affected the region. Myanmar, Thailand, The Philippines, and Indonesia have reportedly been affected. The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) of Myanmar reported flooding in Kayin, Mon, and Rakhine states. Heavy rainfall and the overflowing of the Mei River caused flooding in Tak, Thailand according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). The National Disaster Risk Reduction of Management Council (NDRRMC) of the Philippines reported that the Southwest Monsoon has caused flooding, landslides, storms, and wind in multiple regions. Meanwhile, high-intensity rainfall and the overflowing of rivers flooded areas in Banten and West Java in Indonesia as reported by the Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB).

HIGHLIGHT:

The NDRRMC reported that the Southwest Monsoon has affected Regions 3, 8, 9, MIMAROPA, CAR, and NCR of the Philippines. A total of 236 areas were reported to have been flooded, 33 of which have already subsided and 26 already receding. Four (4) rain-induced landslides were also reported. The Southwest Monsoon has affected 179.3K families (613.5K persons) in 610 barangays, displaced 40.8K people into 137 evacuation centres and their friends and relative’s homes with 1 reported missing person. A total of 289 houses were damaged (248 partially, 41 totally). Around 6.8M USD worth of damages to agriculture and 721K USD to infrastructure were also reported. Assistance amounting to 27.7K USD have been provided to victims in Region 3, MIMAROPA, and CAR. Situation assessment and monitoring and coordination between relevant authorities are continuously on-going for any developments.

HYDRO-METEO-CLIMATOLOGICAL:

For the past week, data from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) showed noticeable high 7-day average rainfall in Southern Myanmar, and Western Luzon of the Philippines as effects of the Southwest Monsoon as reported by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) of Myanmar. The JTWC detected three disturbances 96W, 97W, and 98W with high, low, and high chances to develop into a significant tropical cyclone within 24 hours, respectively. 96W is forecast to head northeastward and 98W north-northeastward. No forecast for 97W’s path and intensity.

GEOPHYSICAL:

Five (5) significant earthquakes (M≥5.0) were recorded in the region by Indonesia’s Badan Meteorologi Klimatologi dan Geofisika (BMKG), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH). Sinabung and Ili Lewotolok in Indonesia (alert level III) and Taal Volcano in the Philippines (alert level 2) reported recent volcanic activity and are under close monitoring. Volcanic activity was also reported for Mount Semeru, Dukono, and Ibu in Indonesia according to Pusat Vulkanologi Dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG) and PHIVOLCS.

OUTLOOK:

According to the ASMC, drier conditions are expected over much of the northern ASEAN region; wetter conditions are expected over much of the Southern and Western Maritime Continent; warmer conditions are expected over much of the ASEAN region. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a small increase in chance for a very heavy rainfall event to occur in North and Western parts of Sumatra, and the Southern Maritime Continent; a small increase in chance for extended dry conditions to occur in Central and Eastern parts of Thailand and Viet Nam, and the Philippines; a moderate increase in chance in Southern Maritime Continent and a small increase in chance for the rest of the Maritime Continent for extreme hot conditions.

 

 

Source: ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance

• OVERVIEW:

 

As of 0700 HRS UTC+7 of 2 Aug 2021, from the 28th of July up to the 1st of August, the Southwest Monsoon has brought moderate to heavy and at times intense rains as well as isolated showers to multiple areas in different regions (Region 1, 3, 8, 9, MIMAROPA, CAR, and NCR) of the Philippines according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

 

• IMPACTS:

 

Related incidents reported included 236 floods (33 of which have already subsided and 26 are already receding) and 4 rain-induced landslides.

 

The Southwest Monsoon has affected 179,341 families (613,503 persons) in 610 barangays, and displaced 40,783 (6,083 inside 137 evacuation centres, 34,700 outside evacuation centres). One (1) person has been reported missing.

 

12 roads and 1 bridge remain not passable and 49 roads and 1 bridge previously reported not passable is now passable. A total of 289 damaged houses have also been reported (248 partially, 41 totally).

 

An estimated 6.8M USD worth of damage to agriculture (11,794.28 hectares) and 721K USD worth of damage to 366 infrastructures were reported.

 

• RESPONSE:

 

Family food packs worth 27.7K USD have been provided to the affected people in Region 3, MIMAROPA, and CAR.

 

A total of 2 cities/municipalities were declared under state of calamity—Macabebe, Pampanga and Hermosa, Bataan (Region 3) according to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

 

Situation assessments, monitoring, and coordination are continuously being done by the relevant authorities for significant updates on the effects of the Southwest Monsoon.

 

• The AHA Centre will continue to monitor for further developments and issue necessary updates

 

 

Source: ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance

PASAY CITY– Temporary Representative of the Philippines to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Jaime Victor B. Ledda urged the ASEAN human rights body to discuss developments on human rights in the region at the Special Meeting of the AICHR 01/2021 held from 12 to 13 and 26 July 2021 via video conference.

“Developments on the promotion and protection of human rights in the region should be discussed regularly during AICHR Meetings, to strengthen AICHR as a platform for candid and productive discourse on human rights concerns,” emphasized Assistant Secretary Ledda.

The Philippines underscored how AICHR, as the overarching human rights body of ASEAN, should pave the way to a more open, honest, and friendly discussion on current human rights developments that affect ASEAN as a family of nations; and shared the recently launched United Nations Joint Program (UNJP) on Human Rights as part of Philippines’ efforts of promoting the fundamental rights and freedoms of Filipinos.

The UNJP is a substantive and forward-looking program that seeks to further strengthen the capacity of national institutions and stakeholders to promote and protect human rights, and strengthen Philippines’ compliance with its international human rights obligations in a spirit of partnership, trust-building, and constructive engagement.

AICHR Representatives of ASEAN Member States provided updates on their respective efforts in upholding and protecting the rights of ASEAN peoples, especially the vulnerable groups such as children, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and migrant workers.

AICHR Representatives are scheduled to meet with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) at the annual AMM-AICHR Interface next month.

 

 

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs

The Police is investigating a 39-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a Computer Misuse Act offence, where he allegedly wrongfully gained access into his former employer’s computer system and deleted its records.

On 29 July 2021, the Police received a report from a representative of a local courier services company, informing that someone had purportedly illegally accessed their company’s server and deleted 190 digital records, resulting in the company not being able to fulfil their customers’ orders.

Through follow-up investigations, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the man on 30 July 2021, within 24 hours of the report lodged. A laptop which was used in the commission of the offence was seized.

The man is assisting with Police investigations. The offence of unauthorised modification of computer material under Section 5(1) of the Computer Misuse Act carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine not exceeding $10,000, or both. Individuals also face a fine not exceeding $20,000, imprisonment not exceeding five years, or both, for the second or subsequent conviction.

 

Source: Singapore Police Force

The Police would like to alert the members of the public to the re-emergence of a variant of Government Officials Impersonation Scam (GOIS), where scammers allegedly posed as officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and presented a fake SPF warrant card. Between January to July 2021, there were 16 victims cheated of such scams. The largest sum cheated in a single case during this period was $1.7 million.

In this variant, the victims had received unsolicited robocalls who claimed to be from the Singapore High Court. These calls were supposedly transferred to a “police officer”, who informed the victims that they were being investigated for money-laundering activities. The victims were instructed to download the “LINE” or WhatsApp messaging platform for further communication with the “police officer”. The victims would then purportedly be shown a fake SPF warrant card and a fake letter indicating that the victims were under investigation. For LINE, the victims would also be added into a chat group named ‘Reporting Platform’. The victims would then be instructed to surrender their monies for investigations by making transfers to various bank accounts controlled by the scammers. The victims were allegedly promised that the money transferred to these bank accounts would be returned to them upon completion of investigations. The victims only discovered that they had been scammed when the scammer requested for further fund transfer(s) and failed to return the earlier transfers.

The Police would like to emphasise that the Police will not instruct members of the public to transfer money to designated bank accounts for investigations. Police officers will also not identify themselves with the SPF warrant card on online platforms.

The public is advised to take the following precautions when they receive unsolicited robocalls to surrender money or banking credentials to others in order to avoid criminal investigations:

1. Ignore such robocalls and the caller’s instructions. No local government agency will contact the members of public using robocalls;
2. No local government agency will demand payment through an undocumented medium like a telephone call or other social messaging platforms, demand that you surrender cash to unnamed persons, or ask you for personal banking information such as your internet banking passwords;
3. For foreign residents receiving calls from persons claiming to be Police officers or government officials from your home country, please call your Embassy/High Commission to verify the claims of the caller;
4. Refrain from giving out personal information and bank details, whether on a website or to callers over the phone. Personal information and bank details such as internet bank account usernames and passwords, or One-Time Password (OTP) codes from tokens, are useful to criminals. Do not make any fund transfer(s) at the behest of such callers;
5. Call a trusted friend or talk to a relative before you act. Do not be pressured by the caller to act impulsively; and
6. If in doubt, call ‘999’ or approach a police office at the Neighbourhood Police Centre near you.

If you have information related to such cases, please call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. Please dial ‘999’ if you require urgent Police assistance.

For scam-related advice, please call the National Crime Prevention Council’s Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688 or visit www.scamalert.sg. Join the ‘Spot the Signs. Stop the Crimes’ campaign at www.scamalert.sg/fight by signing up as an advocate to receive up-to-date messages and share them with your family and friends. Together, we can help stop scams and prevent our loved ones from becoming the next victim.

 

Source: Singapore Police Force