US President Donald Trump on Friday said his government has already spoken with Myanmar officials and would be providing assistance following a cataclysmic earthquake.
“We have already talked to officials of Myanmar, and the US will be assisting them,” Trump said in a statement to press officials, without elaborating on further details.
A Reuters report, citing sources, said the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is getting ready to send teams to neighboring Thailand to aid in recovery efforts. The scope of the agency’s engagement in Myanmar is still unclear.
This dedication is in addition to the Trump administration’s recent move to cut more than 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and reduce $60 billion in total US assistance globally. The action had sparked worries of decreased American participation in global humanitarian activities.
Myanmar, hit by a devastating earthquake earlier this week, has been struggling with large-scale damage and fatalities. Rescue efforts are under way, with international relief organizations coming to the rescue.
Although the US government has assured its willingness to provide assistance, the details of its aid package, including the extent of USAID’s deployment, have yet to be fully disclosed. Authorities in Myanmar and Thailand have not commented yet on how American aid will be incorporated into future rescue and relief operations.
With developments unfolding, humanitarian groups remain calling for immediate international action to aid Myanmar’s recovery.
