Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa announced that a Sri Lankan medical team is on standby to assist with relief efforts in Myanmar, following a devastating earthquake on Friday.
Speaking to the media, Minister Jayatissa stated that the team consists of Sri Lankan medical specialists and nursing staff. Additionally, essential medicines and medical equipment have been prepared for dispatch alongside the team.
“The medical team is ready for departure. The Sri Lankan Mission in Myanmar has been informed via the Foreign Ministry. The Mission has requested that the team remain on standby and will notify us when assistance is needed,” he said.
He assured that the team would be deployed as soon as they receive word from the Sri Lankan Mission in Myanmar.
The Minister also conveyed the Sri Lankan government’s condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster.
Meanwhile, rescuers in Myanmar continue to search for survivors more than three days after the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck. The quake toppled buildings as far away as Bangkok, Thailand, and sent tremors through neighboring Chinese provinces.
According to CNN, over 2,000 people have been confirmed dead, making it the most powerful earthquake to hit Myanmar in more than a century. Experts warn that the true death toll may take weeks to emerge.
