Senior General Min Aung Hlaing expressed thanks to well-wishers, saying that cash donations from well-wishers will contribute much to carrying out rehabilitation tasks.

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said so at the ceremony to accept cash donated by well-wishers for undertaking rescue, relief and resettlement measures in flood-affected areas triggered by Typhoon Yagi in Myanmar at the city hall in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.

Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General unveiled that the flash flood based on heavy rains covered 54 townships in nine regions and states, accounting for 16 per cent of 330 townships.

He counted yesterday’s losses and damage, saying that a total of 2,149 buildings were totally destroyed, 3,455 buildings partially destroyed, and 136,023 buildings submerged, totalling 141,627 in addition to 546 schools flooded.

Moreover, he noted that a total of 148,643 people were affected by flooding. Additionally, he continued that 164 people lost life in flooding in Nay Pyi Taw, five in Kayin State, two in Bago Region, 134 in Mandalay Region, 78 in Shan State and one in Ayeyawady, totalling 384 with 89 persons still missing.

In the terrible incident, he added that 435 religious buildings were damaged, affecting 533 roads and bridges, 2,489 lamp-posts, 99 telecom towers, 144,998 animals and 735,461 acres of paddy.

The Senior General emphasized that cash donations from well-wishers will contribute much to carrying out rehabilitation tasks.

He disclosed that the government plans to spend K30 billion on rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures with cash donations from well-wishers.

With regard to flooding, the Senior General explained that silting and sands raise the bed level of rivers and creeks across Myanmar.

He highlighted that lacking timely transport of logs extracted from forests triggered much destruction in flash floods.

He explained that efforts are being made to regrow some 700,000 acres of flood-affected cultivable lands. If these lands cannot be placed under paddy, these will be summer croplands.

He urged well-wishers to donate books and stationery for students as the government is repairing schools as quickly as possible.

With regard to speaking words of thanks, the Senior General said: “We have to overcome challenges through the united strength. More than the K31 billion you donated today is a larger amount of money. I would like to express my thanks to you all. We don’t have to spend money carelessly. If so, our spending will affect the allocated budget. So, today’s donation partially takes responsibility for the burden of the State. I will note it down. Really, I expect to accept some K3-4 billion. Let me reiterate: I thank all individuals and organizations for your today’s generous donations. I want to urge you all to contribute to the needs of the State in the future. We have pledged to go on under the Five-Point Roadmap without fail. Actually, such a roadmap could have been completed in the last two years. Due to various reasons, its implementation process lasts till today. So, we would like to implement them to be accomplished. So, I request you all to contribute to the implementation of the Roadmap. A plan is underway to enumerate the national population and household census on 1 October. I would like to urge you all to support it for successful completion. From then on, we will compile the voter lists based on the census and hold elections, and then we will go along the route the people would have to choose. In conclusion, I would like to urge you all to join it”.

At the ceremony, a video clip on overcoming the challenges of natural disasters, which was recorded on natural disasters affected by Typhoon Yagi and related flash floods, was presented.

The Senior General accepted cash donated by ministries, families of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and well-wishers for rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures and returned certificates of honour.

Chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Council Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, Council members General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, General Nyo Saw and U Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Soe Win and Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman U Than Tun Oo also accepted cash donations and presented certificates of honour.

Well-wishers donated K32.230 billion in total to take rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures in flood-affected regions.

MNA/TTA

Salient points from the speech delivered by the Senior General at the cash donation ceremony for flood victims

1. A total of 148,643 people were impacted by flooding. Additionally, 164 people lost life in flooding in Nay Pyi Taw, five in Kayin State, two in Bago Region, 134 in Mandalay Region, 78 in Shan State and one in Ayeyawady, totalling 384 with 89 persons still missing.

2. Four hundred and thirty-five religious buildings were damaged, affecting 533 roads and bridges, 2,489 lamp-posts, 99 telecom towers, 144,998 animals and 735,461 acres of paddy.

3. Efforts are being made to regrow some 700,000 acres of flood-impacted cultivable lands. If these lands cannot be placed under paddy, these will be summer croplands.

4. Well-wishers donated K32.230 billion in total to take rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures in flood-battered regions.

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