The UN Secretary-General has called for rapid action on all fronts, to respond to the developing crisis in Myanmar, after last Friday’s devastating earthquake that has claimed more than 3 000 lives.

UN Chief Antonio Guterres delivered a statement in New York earlier today in which he described Myanmar as a scene of utter devastation and desperation, pointing to some 20 million people or one third of the country now in need of humanitarian aid.

“The earthquake has supercharged the suffering – with the monsoon season just around the corner. We need rapid action on several fronts. I am announcing today that I am sending our Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, to Myanmar. He will be on the ground tomorrow. I am also sending my Special Envoy, Julie Bishop, to visit the country in the coming days to reinforce our commitment to peace and dialogue. I appeal, in particular, to the international community to immediately step up vitally needed funding to match the scale of this crisis.”