A total of 1,350 MT of APTERR’s stockpile emergency rice reserves under the generous contributions from Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have been released through the Tier 3 programme to relieve the sufferings of 122,920 people, especially the vulnerable groups, due to severe impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar.
After receiving an urgent request for rice assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) of Myanmar, the APTERR Secretariat took a quick action to call the APTERR members for a voluntary stockpiled donation to support Myanmar in fighting the food crisis amid the nationwide spread of unprecedented outbreak. Thanks to positive contributions always given by the APTERR members, this time, Japan and the ROK immediately shown their desires to provide 750 MT and 600 MT of rice respectively through the Tier 3 programme to prevent Myanmar people from food insecurity.
The DOA in consultation with the APTERR Secretariat and other related agencies will distribute Japan’s 750 MT of rice to five states/regions namely Yangon, Bago, Mandalay, Rakhine and Nay Pyi Taw. Meanwhile, 600 MT of rice contributed by the ROK through the pre-positioned programme under Tier 3 will be released to ten states and regions namely Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin Sagaing, Taninthari, Magway, Mon, Shan and Ayeyarwaddy.