Cambodia and the UN are both urging that immediate action be taken to deliver humanitarian aid and vaccinate the most vulnerable populations in Myanmar against Covid-19 amid an ongoing political crisis there.

The announcement was made following a video conference meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and the UN Secretary-General special envoy for Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer on December 28.

In a press release on December 30, the foreign ministry said Heyzer had expressed interest in working closely with Cambodia in support of finding a peaceful solution to the current crisis in Myanmar and Sokhonn also affirmed his readiness to cooperate with her in this endeavour.

“They emphasised the urgent need to work together to ensure safe and speedy delivery of humanitarian relief to the people who are in dire need of assistance, including vaccines to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the press release said.

It said Sokhonn explained to Heyzer Cambodia’s commitment to taking a practical and step-by-step approach toward achieving progress on the implementation of the ASEAN five-point consensus.

The five-point consensus is a plan issued by ASEAN earlier this year to help resolve the crisis in Myanmar that calls for an immediate cessation of violence by all parties and peaceful negotiations as its core principles.