DFA: Myanmar situation still difficult

The situation on the ground in Myanmar remains "difficult" as the Philippine contingent in the earthquake-hit country arrived on Tuesday, according to a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official.

"Still problematic. Difficult," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told GMA News Online.

“We have sent our own humanitarian contingent,” he added.

De Vega also clarified that relatives of missing and affected Filipinos in Myanmar were not allowed to join the rescue team "because of the conditions in Myanmar."

An earlier update by the Office of Civil Defense said that the first batch of the Philippine humanitarian contingent for Myanmar arrived in Naypyidaw, Myanmar on Tuesday afternoon.

The team consisted of 58 contingent members on a two-week deployment, while 33 other contingents are set to follow on April 2.

As of April 1, the death toll in Myanmar following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake has reached more than 2,000.

Over 3,900 were reportedly injured and more than 270 were reported missing.

The United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said shelter, clean water and medicine are in short supply following the earthquake.

Four Filipinos, including a couple, remain unaccounted for. 

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it is actively working to find those who remain unaccounted for, focusing particularly on four Filipino teachers who were thought to be inside a building during the disaster.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac added the government will offer their families support as the search for their missing kin continues.

"The President has instructed us to take action, and he has also provided reassurance that we will effectively coordinate with our embassy on-site through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), as well as with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), which is leading our 92-member team that the President has dispatched to Myanmar as of last night," Cacdac told GMA Integrated News.

The team, sent to assist in search and rescue efforts, includes experts ready to offer various types of support, such as medical care.

"We aim to help not only in locating the missing four but also for any other overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who may require any form of aid, medical or otherwise, while in Myanmar," Cacdac added.

The DMW said it has been in touch with the families of the missing teachers and has committed to providing financial aid as well.—LDF, GMA Integrated News