VICE-SENIOR General Soe Win unveiled that the National Disaster Management Committee has provided cash and kind – over K25 billion and emergency foods – to recent flood-affected areas, dead and injured people and those who lost homes.

The National Disaster Management Work Committee held the coordination meeting at the assembly hall of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement in Nay Pyi Taw this afternoon, with an address by the Chairman of the Management Committee Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win.

In his opening address, the Vice-Senior General said that Myanmar is also facing natural disasters based on climate change, and it is included in the list of the most likely causes of loss and damage in natural disasters.

He pointed out that news showed Typhoon Yinxing entering the Philippines on 7 November and then heading to the west and northwestward.

He recounted that central Myanmar and Shan State suffered impacts of heavy rains and flash floods triggered by Typhoon Yagi, which coincided with a small storm from the depression in the Bay of Bengal.

Now, he disclosed that clashes of the cold and warm air streams stipulate rain in Myanmar, whereas Typhoon Yinxing from the Philippines heads to Vietnam. As such, preparations must be made to provide necessary aid for the people considering the possible heavy rains, flash floods and landslides, he added.

According to the press releases of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology under the Ministry of Transport and Communications and international meteorological centres, the Vice-Senior General noted that Myanmar is expected to face some rains less than usual from 8 to 17 November. However, it is necessary to make preparations and conduct rehearsals so as not to cause impacts of storms similar to Typhoon Yagi again.

At present, he explained that whirlwinds which moved from the South China Sea, facing occurrences between warm winds from the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal cold winds from the high press area of China mainland, may cause instability of the atmosphere in the Andaman Sea and the Southeast of Bay of Bengal despite passing the monsoon period. Hence, heavy rains may occur in the coming days, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

He stressed that it is necessary to release early warnings, set safer places for displaced persons from the flood-ravaged areas, stockpile purified drinking water and foods in advance, group heavy machinery and vehicles to transport affected people, manage the evacuation of the people in time, and organize the people who refuse to move under the natural disaster management law. All need to cooperate with each other in necessary preparations to minimize loss and waste.

He revealed that the National Disaster Management Committee had provided cash assistance of more than K25 billion and emergency foods for recent flood-affected areas, dead and injured people and those who lost homes as part of the emergency response to the flood-hit areas.

He highlighted that all flood-damaged basic education schools could be reopened within one month thanks to the State fund and the contribution of well-wishers.

Vice Chairs of the committee Union Ministers Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and Dr Soe Win reported on possible natural disasters, progress in making preparations with the formation of region-wise emergency response teams, and purchase of relief aid with the use of the natural disaster management fund.

The Director General of DMH clarified the route of Typhoon Yinxing from the South China Sea and weather forecasts.

The meeting discussed preparations for conducting region-wise and sector-wise emergency responses, rescue and relief, logistics and rehabilitation measures.

Union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw chairman, deputy ministers, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, departmental heads and officials attended the meeting, together with chief ministers of regions and states, who are also chairpersons of regional and state natural disaster management committees, and officials through videoconferencing.

MNA/TTA

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