Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye yesterday presided over the videoconference marking handing over of cash assistance to the Chin State Chief Minister to use the money for IDPs and elderly people (aged between 80 and 85) in Paletwa Township and Sami, Chin State.

Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye, Chin State Chief Minister Salai Lian Luai, Deputy Minister U Soe Aung, the Chin State Social Affairs Minister, the directors-general, and the directors from Chin State’s Department of Disaster Management and the Department of Social Welfare participated in the videoconference.

During the event, under the COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP), Directors from Chin State’s Department of Disaster Management and Department of Social Welfare officially handed over K79.28 million for 1,982 IDP households in Paletwa and Sami, and K5.52 million for 184 elderly people (aged between 80 and 85) in Paletwa Township. Similarly, the directors handed over K33,330,900 to buy three-month food supply for 921 IDPs in Tanelakwa Village in Paletwa as a regular food supply programme.

At the videoconference, the Union Minister said that Department of Disaster Management has been providing financial assistance to buy food for households in IDP camps in five states under the CERP. He added that Department of Social Welfare has also been providing special social welfare support to elderly people (aged between 80 and 85) amid COVID-19 crisis, and Department of Rehabilitation has been providing cash assistance to disabled people.

He also highlighted the efforts of Department of Disaster Management to educate IDPs about COVID-19 preventive measures in accordance with necessary guidelines. The department provided memory sticks storing COVID-19 related instructions, masks, face shields, soaps, washbasins, and thermometers, according to the Union Minister.

The Ministry also provided financial support to build “long houses” to accommodate suspected COVID-19 patients, said the Union Minister.

The Union Minister warned of COVID-19 outbreak as Chin State shares border with India, where COVID-19 spread widely, and he called for public cooperation in efforts to control COVID-19 pandemic.

Chin State Chief Minister Salai Lian Luai said that the relief support will be distributed to IDPs and elderly people, and expressed thanks for the cash assistance.

A total of K183.9 million has already been handed over to relevant officials in the Chin State and the money has been re-distributed to 6,130 persons with disability in the Chin State.

MNA

(Translated by Maung Maung Swe)

Photo – MNA

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