ASSESSMENT REPORT OF MYANMAR DISASTER

    The ministers also looked into a report assessing relief and recovery progress in Cyclone Nargis-struck Myanmar nearly three months after the country's worst disaster hit, leaving over 84,530people dead and a further 53,836 still reported missing.

    The Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) report, which was drawn up by on-the-ground experts working under a tripartite cooperation between Myanmar, the United Nations and ASEAN, was released Monday.

    The report said "Recovery needs, which are estimated a just over a total of 1 billion U.S. dollars over the next three years, include the most urgent priorities of significant food, agriculture, housing, basic services and support to communities for restoring their livelihoods and rebuilding assets."

    This is the first time that ASEAN has played such a leading role in responding to a natural disaster affecting one of its member states. ASEAN facilitated and coordinated international assistance to the survivors of the cyclone as well as the conduct of this assessment.

    FOOD AND ENERGY SECURITY

    The ministers expressed their serious concern over the region's food and energy security, saying rising oil and food prices poses a serious challenge to the region continued economic development.

    ASEAN, which has a combined GDP of 1.3 trillion U.S. dollars and a population of nearly 600 million, disapproves food export subsidies.

    "We encouraged all countries to do away with price-distorting export subsidies and other protectionist policies and to provide market access to competitive food exports," said the statement.

    On the recent volatility and rise of oil prices, ministers said ASEAN should strength cooperation, such as improving energy efficiency and conservation, to enhance the region's energy security.