SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win inspects relief and rehabilitation works in Sittwe Township, Rakhine State; honours departmental personnel, relief teams and welfare teams for their exceptional efforts in relief undertakings
NAY PYI TAW June 14
Chairman of National Natural Disaster Management Committee Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, accompanied by SAC members Admiral Tin Aung San and Dr Aung Kyaw Min, union ministers U Ko Ko Hlaing, U Maung Maung Ohn, Dr Myo Thein Kyaw and Dr Thet Khaing Win, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, deputy ministers and officials, arrived at the airport and was welcomed by union ministers Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, U Myo Thant and Dr Thet Thet Khaing, the Rakhine State chief minister, the Western Command commander and officials.
At Kaladan multipurpose port in Sittwe, the Vice-Senior General and party observed the arrival of cargo ships, unloading of relief and rehabilitation aid by volunteers. They also gave guidance to officials.
At Sittwe University, the Vice-Senior General heard a report on progress in repairing the convocation hall, and conducting of third year and fourth year courses and first year and second year honor courses presented by Rector Dr Khin Maung Zaw and officials. In response, the Vice-Senior General stressed the need to complete the roofing work within a month, to maintain the university’s prestige in repairing it, and to carry out interior and exterior beautification task. He gave words of encouragement to students of master’s degree courses and observed the work of volunteers.
The Vice-Senior General inspected the repair of a 12,900 feet section of Sittwe Strand Road (Shukintha Road) from Sartaik junction to Sittwe Hotel.
At the briefing hall, Union Minister for Construction U Myo Thant reported on road repair work. The Vice-Senior General looked into the requirements.
During inspection of the 500-bed general hospital, the Vice-Senior General attended to the needs after hearing a report on Obstetrics and Gynecology Ward, COVID-19 Ward, kidney treatment center, oral treatment center, and servant quarters that were damaged by cyclone Mocha presented by the medical superintendent. He asked after the health of Don paik Sayadaw,aged 105, was a 85, from Don paik Village, Yathetaung Township,who was receiving medical treatment.
After visiting patients and presenting them foodstuff, he inspected the kidney treatment center. He also gave words of encouragement to students at No 1 Basic Education High School Sittwe.
At the Lawkananda Pagoda compound, the Vice-Senior General attended the ceremony to honor departmental personnel,relief teams and welfare teams who made exceptional efforts in cleaning the debris of Sasana Beikman flattened by Mocha.
In his address, the Vice-Senior General honored members of Myanmar Police Force, Red Cross, fire brigades, and welfare organizations for making selfless and exceptional efforts in carrying out relief and rescue works with goodwill. International community including ASEAN was anticipating that loss would be extremely high. Led by the Prime Minister, preparatory measures were taken with great vision. When a Low Depression Area formed on 6 May, plans were laid down to form the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), which could actually be set up on 8 May.
For the people to be free from dangers, necessary ministries cooperate with each other in grouping themselves under the observation of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology to make preparations by taking lessons from the past cyclone Naris. Although the storm fell on 14 May, the government has made preparations for functioning all since 6 May. As the storm started at a time when tide rose, the area faced minimizing loss.
As the Prime Minister announced the red level of weather earlier than the schedules, evacuation could be done sooner. Hence, casualties could be reduced to the least amount. In the aftermath of the storm, searching, rescue and rehabilitation could be done earlier. The Prime Minister instructed him to properly honor those from rescue teams and philanthropic teams who actively participated in the relief measures with sacrifice in storm affected areas.
The progress of rehabilitation could be seen satisfactorily after one month thanks to the endeavors of volunteers in comparison with the scenes of loss and damage in the storm.
The Vice-Senior General recognized cooperation of people from urban and wards in taking rehabilitation measures under the arrangement of the State.
As life of people is forever but life of service personnel is a short period in serving the interests of the relevant regions, people should participate in the tasks to benefit the regions in full swing.
With regard to the education sector, although a total of 1,583 schools were damaged by the storm, high schools were repaired on priority to open them on 1 June under the arrangement of the Prime Minister. In line with the policy that all school age children must be enrolled and all students must pass the KG+9 scheme, an emphasis is being placed on education sector. Opening school on 1 June helps ease tension of the students’ parents.
In the health sector, the policy that nothing is important than life period has been implemented since the COVID-19 infection.
Priority is being given to make necessary preparations for hospitals.
Communication sector is of great importance. Now, communication functions are being operated by a cent per cent as usual. The Disaster Management Centre-DMC holds the regular meetings daily for effectively implementing the daily functions in respective sectors without difficulties for doing coordination and giving instruction. The Prime Minister gives guidance on rehabilitation with a keen observation.
The storm killed 148 persons and caused loss of some Ks-522 billion. Those dead persons refused evacuation of officials to safer places, so they lost lives.
As the relevant organizations systematically managed the relief measures, rehabilitation can be done now. A total of 17 townships from Rakhine State and four townships in Chin State were declared as natural disaster hit regions under the Section 11 of the Disaster Management Law. Tractors, cattle and seeds are being provided for agricultural sector of Sittwe, Maungtaw and Rathetaung townships faced severe destruction of the storm.
Although international community, ASEAN and neighboring countries expected Myanmar might face tremendous loss, the unity and proper cooperation could minimize loss and damage in line with the motto: Strength of the nation lies within. Moreover, rehabilitation tasks could be undertaken rapidly.
The Vice-Senior General expressed his thanks to all organizations and people for their cooperation in relief and rehabilitation measures.
The Vice-Senior General and Council member Dr Aung Kyaw Min presented awards to departmental personnel, relief teams and volunteer teams for their sacrifices in cleaning up the debris due to storm Mocha.
The cash awards presented to a total of 20 relief and rescue teams and charity organizations today amounted to Ks-49 million.
The Vice-Senior General paid homage to Abbot of Pannita Nandayama Monastery in Magyimyaing Ward of Sittwe Agga Maha Ganthavacaka Pandita Bhaddanta Nandasiri and offered alms.