The Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC) continues its crucial rescue and medical operations in Myanmar over a week after a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Southeast Asian country.

The 89-member contingent, which arrived on April 1 and 2, remains on the ground, working in coordination with international partners to aid affected communities and reinforce the Philippines’ commitment to global humanitarian efforts, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said in a statement on Saturday.

On April 4, Lt. Col. Erwen Diploma, PAF, Contingent Commander, visited the Urban Search and Rescue operations at the collapsed Jade City Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw where the Filipino responders, alongside Myanmar, Vietnamese, and Indonesia teams, are searching for possible survivors.

While rescue efforts continue, the Philippine medical teams are also providing essential care.

The Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Teams (PEMAT) Type 1 Fixed Hospital near Bomingaung Temple opened on April 4 to serve locals with free consultations, following 17 consultations by the second augmentation team in Lewe Township the day before.

The day before, the second augmentation team at Lewe Township Hospital conducted 17 consultations, covering general medicine, surgery, orthopedics and obstetrics.

In Pyinmana, the PEMAT hospital started operations on April 3, treating 94 patients, including 68 for general medicine and 20 for surgical care. (PNA)