Cyclone shelters must be built in towns and villages along the beach and both banks of rivers in Rakhine State: Vice-Senior General

 

VICE-CHAIRMAN of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win who is also in the capacity of Chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee, accompanied by his wife Daw Than Than Nwe and officials, yesterday afternoon arrived at Sittway Airport.

 

The Vice-Senior General inspected reconstruction and rehabilitation tasks in cyclone-hit Sittway by car.

At the office of the Rakhine State government, the Vice-Senior General gave instructions at the meeting on relief and rehabilitation for losses and damage caused by cyclonic storm Mocha in Rakhine State.

Rakhine State Chief Minister U Htein Lin reported on stockpiling of relief supplies, efforts for communications in the aftermath of the storm, management for reconstruction and rehabilitation, arrivals of relief items and medicines by water and air, distribution of relief supplies, reconstruction of the storm hit houses, installation of power cable and formation of special health task forces.

Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Transport and Communications Admiral Tin Aung San explained progress in relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation in Rakhine State in accord with the guidance of the Prime Minister, priority for the opening of schools and universities, repairing of damaged parts at hospitals, arrivals of relief supplies by naval ships, distribution of rice, oil, rations and medicines to storm-affected areas, repairing of towers for reconnection of communication stations, and supply of drinking water.

 Union Ministers Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung and U Ko Ko Hlaing reported on efforts for shaping the towns to normalcy, offers of neighbouring countries and the international community to provide relief aid and medicines to the storm victims, foreign companies in Rakhine State to provide technical assistance and repatriation and resettlement in the aftermath of the storm.

 Union ministers U Thaung Han, Daw Thet Thet Khaing, U Myo Thant and Dr Thet Khaing Win presented the supply of electricity as quickly as possible, distribution of reserve rice and construction materials to necessary areas, repairs for roads, bridges and buildings in Rakhine State, priority for repairing hospitals, schools and religious buildings, regular healthcare services at the general hospitals, sending emergency health special task forces to necessary areas, and offers of neighbouring countries and international organizations to donate medicines.  

I n  h i s  s p e e c h ,  t h e  Vice-Senior General stressed the need to prioritize repairing high schools and universities to be opened on 1 June. Data on the loss and death of animals must be sent to the National Disaster Management Committee via the state management committee.

The Vice-Senior General recounted that the Prime Minister has given guidance that if international organizations offer to provide assistance, local authorities can take CI sheets and nails for buildings, medicines and cyclone shelters. All need to cooperate in the soonest supply of electricity and clearing of debris in towns.

 Data and accounts must be compiled soonest for systematically conducting the rehabilitation. In conclusion, the Vice-Senior General stressed the need for supplies of basic foodstuffs to each family, supplies of clean drinking water, proper communication measures and construction of more cyclone shelters in necessary regions. Cyclone shelters must be built in towns and villages along the beach and both banks of rivers in Rakhine State. The Vice-Senior General spoke of the need to carry out rehabilitation in the aftermath of the storm to have a better process and people were urged to participate in the rehabilitation of their towns and villages together with service personnel.

— MNA/TTA