International Bodies Urged To Help Developing Countries Fight Avian Flu

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia wants international bodies to help developing nations in funding the fight against the ongoing avian flu which is threatening the poultry industry in the region.
"It is worrying, it is serious. Millions of chickens are killed in Indonesia and the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation), WHO (World Health Organisation) have issued stern warning," Agriculture and Agro Based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told reporters after opening the Livestock Asia 2005 Expo and Forum at the Mines Resort City near here Tuesday.
"International organisations and EU (European Union) should mobilise funds to be provided to lesser developed countries to handle the situation at home.
"Money is important. If there is an outbreak, millions of ringgit worth of chickens will be culled which is a loss to the industry and more importantly, the loss of human lives," he added.
Muhyiddin also said Malaysia was extremely concerned about the avian flu threat because it could undermine the recovering poultry industry which is expected to exceed RM7 billion this year.
At the national level, he said a joint committee established between his ministry and Ministry of Health would outline the strategy to contain the problem if there is an outbreak.
"The joint committee will look into various measures and a contingency plan will be put into action as soon as possible if there is an outbreak," he said.
At the regional level, he said a regional plan would be drawn up at the Asean Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry Meeting in Manila on Wednesday. This is to enable Asean members address the problem.
Meanwhile Thierry Rommel, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission (EU) based in Kuala Lumpur told reporters that the EC, FAO, World Bank and World Organisation for Animal Protection (OIE) would organise an international conference on avian flu and human transmission to be held later this year in Asia.
"The idea of the international conference is to mobilise more political commitment for this new challenge.
"Look at the number of small farmers in Vietnam and Indonesia, and even China, there is a need for compensation if you want them not to obstruct massive culling whenever culling is necessary," he said.
Rommel said some governments did not have adequate funds to compensate the affected farmers.
The conference is to assist developing countries to draft a strong international plan to combat avian flu and its transmission and also to support their plan financially and technical assistant.
He also said some of the international agencies do not have enough fund to face the new challenge.
"They don't have fund for that (to combat avian flu), so you are talking about a large amount of money. FAO and OIE do not have this amount of fund," said Rommel.