Latest news with #RedCrescentSocieties
The Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Govt urged to steer Asean beyond economic output
PETALING JAYA: Renowned humanitarian and Mercy Malaysia founder Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood has urged Malaysia to use its Asean chairmanship as a turning point not just for the region's economic ambitions but to also redefine progress through the lens of genuine well-being and planetary health. Speaking on 'The Game of Impossible' podcast on Friday, Jemilah stressed that gross domestic product (GDP) alone is a flawed and outdated metric of development. She said high income does not always equate to happiness or safety. 'GDP alone is a bad measure of development. You have seen countries with high GDPs but very unhappy people, very unsafe. We need a well-being economics model in which everyone can live a good life with dignity and enough economic development,' she said. Jemilah, who founded Mercy Malaysia in 1999 after being moved by wartime footage from Kosovo, reflected on how humanitarian work has evolved from reactive disaster response to addressing the root causes of human vulnerability. She recounted a life-changing moment from 2000, when images of a Mozambican woman giving birth atop a mango tree during severe flooding left a lasting impression. Years later, while serving as Under Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, she visited Mozambique and discovered that the boy she was playing with was that very baby. 'That was my 'aha' moment,' she said. 'Have I been putting band-aids on gaping wounds? Until and unless we tackle the underlying drivers of why people are becoming so vulnerable, we can't keep (applying) aid as a cure.' That realisation drove her deeper into planetary health, a field linking the well-being of humanity to the state of the Earth's natural systems. Upon returning to Malaysia from Switzerland during the Covid-19 pandemic, Jemilah established the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, envisioning it as a regional hub to address intertwined challenges such as climate change, social inequality and sustainable growth. 'Asia Pacific is the most vulnerable region in the world,' she warned, urging Malaysia to lead boldly during its Asean chairmanship with real commitments to decarbonisation, halting deforestation and driving behavioural change. She highlighted Costa Rica as an inspiring example, a country that abolished its military, invested in environmental conservation and built a thriving ecotourism sector while consistently ranking among the world's happiest nations. 'I would rather live well than be extremely wealthy. You may have wealth but no health. We need to find the balance between well-being and wealth,' she said. Reflecting on over two decades in humanitarian service, from conflict zones in Iraq and Afghanistan to the 2004 tsunami in Aceh, Jemilah shared searing memories, including an ambush in Iraq that claimed the lives of her colleagues and left her needing months of therapy. 'Humanitarian workers were no longer sacrosanct. International humanitarian law had been breached,' she said, describing how their clearly marked ambulance was deliberately targeted. Through it all, Jemilah emphasised the values of humility, persistence and gratitude. She said true leadership includes knowing when to step aside as she did by preparing a succession plan before stepping down from Mercy Malaysia.
India Today
10-06-2025
- Climate
- India Today
6 earthquakes rattle India-Myanmar border in last 36 hours
Six earthquakes with mild to moderate intensity were felt at the India-Myanmar border in the last nearly 36 temblors had intensities measured between 3.8 to 4.5 on the Richter last tremor was recorded at 11.21 am on Tuesday with a magnitude of 4.3 and was felt near Manipur. The India-Myanmar border is highly prone to earthquakes. This is due to the region's location within a complex tectonic zone characterised by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian active subduction zone in the Andaman-Nicobar Islands and the major Sagaing Fault in Myanmar both contribute to the region's seismic activity. On March 28, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, killing more than 3,700 people, flattening communities and crippling infrastructure in the impoverished nation. The tremors were also felt in neighbouring 200,000 people remain displaced and live outdoors, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), even as parts of central Myanmar are jolted almost daily by aftershocks.(with inputs from Reuters)Must Watch IN THIS STORY#Earthquake#Manipur
Japan Today
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Myanmar junta airstrike kills 22 at school: witnesses
A Myanmar junta airstrike hit a school Monday killing 22 people, including 20 children, witnesses said, despite a purported humanitarian ceasefire called to help the Southeast Asian nation recover from a devastating earthquake. The strike hit a school in the village of Oe Htein Kwin -- around 100 kilometers northwest of the epicenter of the March 28 quake -- at about 10 a.m., locals said. UN chief Antonio Guterres is "deeply alarmed" by reports of the strike, his spokesman told reporters in New York, adding that "schools must remain areas in which children have a safe place to learn and not be bombed." The green school building was a shattered husk on Monday afternoon, its metal roof crumpled with gaping holes blasted through its brickwork walls. Over a dozen abandoned book bags were piled before a pole flying the Myanmar flag outside, as parents chiseled small graves out of the hard earth to bury the shrouded bodies of their children. "For now 22 people in total -- 20 children and two teachers -- have been killed," said a 34-year-old teacher at the school, asking to remain anonymous. "We tried to spread out the children, but the fighter was too fast and dropped its bombs," she added. "I haven't been able to collect all the casualty data as parents are in a rush." An education official from the area of the village in Sagaing region gave the same toll. The junta information team said reports of the strike were "fabricated news". "There was no airstrike on non-military targets," it said in a statement. Myanmar has been riven by civil war since the military deposed a civilian government in 2021, with the junta suffering stinging losses to a myriad of anti-coup guerrillas and long-active ethnic armed groups. But the military pledged a ceasefire throughout this month "to continue the rebuilding and rehabilitation process" after the magnitude 7.7 quake in Myanmar's central belt that killed nearly 3,800 people. Tens of thousands are still living outside after the catastrophic jolt demolished or badly damaged their homes, facing the prospect of the monsoon season starting in the coming weeks. "The needs are immense," Jagan Chapagain, secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, told AFP on Monday. "My worry is that time is not on our side." The United Nations and independent conflict monitors say the junta has continued its campaign of aerial bombardment despite the armistice meant to alleviate suffering. Last week, the UN said that since the earthquake more than 200 civilians had been killed in at least 243 military attacks, including 171 airstrikes. In its ceasefire declaration, the military warned it would take "necessary defensive measures" if pressed by its opponents. Numerous anti-coup and ethnic armed groups have made own pledges to pause hostilities. However during the truce some residents in eastern Myanmar said they have been displaced as anti-coup forces besieged junta-held towns on a lucrative trade route towards neighboring Thailand. The March earthquake saw the ground shear up to six meters in places, according to NASA analysis -- leveling apartments, opening yawning holes in roads and collapsing one major bridge. The relief response is also being hobbled by funding shortfalls after US President Donald Trump slashed Washington's international aid budget. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Myanmar junta airstrike kills 22 at school: witnesses
A Myanmar junta airstrike hit a school Monday killing 22 people, including 20 children, witnesses said, despite a purported humanitarian ceasefire called to help the nation recover from a devastating earthquake. The strike hit a school in the village of Oe Htein Kwin -- around 100 kilometres (65 miles) northwest of the epicentre of the March 28 quake -- at about 10:00 am (0330 GMT), locals said. The green school building was a shattered husk on Monday afternoon, its metal roof crumpled with gaping holes blasted through its brickwork walls. Over a dozen abandoned book bags were piled before a pole flying the Myanmar flag outside, as parents chiselled small graves out of the hard earth to bury the shrouded bodies of their children. "For now 22 people in total -- 20 children and two teachers -- have been killed," said a 34-year-old teacher at the school, asking to remain anonymous. "We tried to spread out the children, but the fighter was too fast and dropped its bombs," she added. "I haven't been able to collect all the casualty data as parents are in a rush." An education official from the area of the village in Sagaing region gave the same toll. The junta information team said reports of the strike were "fabricated news". "There was no airstrike on non-military targets," it said a statement. Myanmar has been riven by civil war since the military deposed a civilian government in 2021, with the junta suffering stinging losses to a myriad of anti-coup guerillas and long-active ethnic armed groups. But the military pledged a ceasefire throughout this month "to continue the rebuilding and rehabilitation process" after the magnitude 7.7 quake in Myanmar's central belt that killed nearly 3,800 people. - 'Needs are immense' - Tens of thousands are still living outside after the catastrophic jolt demolished or badly damaged their homes, facing the prospect of the monsoon season starting in the coming weeks. "The needs are immense," Jagan Chapagain, secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, told AFP on Monday. "My worry is that time is not on our side." The United Nations and independent conflict monitors say the junta has continued its campaign of aerial bombardment despite the armistice meant to alleviate suffering. Last week, the UN said that since the earthquake more than 200 civilians had been killed in at least 243 military attacks, including 171 airstrikes. In its ceasefire declaration, the military warned it would take "necessary defensive measures" if pressed by its opponents. Numerous anti-coup and ethnic armed groups have made own pledges to pause hostilities. However during the truce some residents in eastern Myanmar said they have been displaced as anti-coup forces besieged junta-held towns on a lucrative trade route towards Thailand. The March earthquake saw the ground shear up to six metres (20 feet) in places according to NASA analysis -- levelling apartments, opening yawning holes in roads and collapsing one major bridge. The relief response is also being hobbled by funding shortfalls after US President Donald Trump slashed Washington's international aid budget. bur-jts/bjt
France 24
12-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Myanmar junta airstrike kills 22 at school: witnesses
The strike hit a school in the village of Oe Htein Kwin -- around 100 kilometres (65 miles) northwest of the epicentre of the March 28 quake -- at about 10:00 am (0330 GMT), locals said. The green school building was a shattered husk on Monday afternoon, its metal roof crumpled with gaping holes blasted through its brickwork walls. Over a dozen abandoned book bags were piled before a pole flying the Myanmar flag outside, as parents chiselled small graves out of the hard earth to bury the shrouded bodies of their children. "For now 22 people in total -- 20 children and two teachers -- have been killed," said a 34-year-old teacher at the school, asking to remain anonymous. "We tried to spread out the children, but the fighter was too fast and dropped its bombs," she added. "I haven't been able to collect all the casualty data as parents are in a rush." An education official from the area of the village in Sagaing region gave the same toll. The junta information team said reports of the strike were "fabricated news". "There was no airstrike on non-military targets," it said a statement. Myanmar has been riven by civil war since the military deposed a civilian government in 2021, with the junta suffering stinging losses to a myriad of anti-coup guerillas and long-active ethnic armed groups. But the military pledged a ceasefire throughout this month "to continue the rebuilding and rehabilitation process" after the magnitude 7.7 quake in Myanmar's central belt that killed nearly 3,800 people. 'Needs are immense' Tens of thousands are still living outside after the catastrophic jolt demolished or badly damaged their homes, facing the prospect of the monsoon season starting in the coming weeks. "The needs are immense," Jagan Chapagain, secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, told AFP on Monday. "My worry is that time is not on our side." The United Nations and independent conflict monitors say the junta has continued its campaign of aerial bombardment despite the armistice meant to alleviate suffering. Last week, the UN said that since the earthquake more than 200 civilians had been killed in at least 243 military attacks, including 171 airstrikes. In its ceasefire declaration, the military warned it would take "necessary defensive measures" if pressed by its opponents. Numerous anti-coup and ethnic armed groups have made own pledges to pause hostilities. However during the truce some residents in eastern Myanmar said they have been displaced as anti-coup forces besieged junta-held towns on a lucrative trade route towards Thailand. The March earthquake saw the ground shear up to six metres (20 feet) in places according to NASA analysis -- levelling apartments, opening yawning holes in roads and collapsing one major bridge. The relief response is also being hobbled by funding shortfalls after US President Donald Trump slashed Washington's international aid budget.
