The Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by officials, went to natural disaster-hit Sittwe on 15 May, and left necessary instructions on emergency management, response, rescue and cooperation, and rehabilitation measures.
First, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister and party heard reports on the preparatory measures before the disaster and undertakings of rescue and rehabilitation in progress, the opening of the command post of the state disaster emergency management office at the Rakhine State government office on 7 May and similar offices in seven districts and 17 townships and arrangement for cyclone shelters presented by Rakhine State Chief Minister. Then Union Ministers and officials respectively reported to them on rescue and rehabilitation measures in relevant sectors.
After hearing the reports, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister said as follows:
- Natural disasters are unavoidable, and if preparations are made to face the disaster, the country can overcome it with the least loss and damage.
- Now, he arrived at there to inspect loss and damage for arranging necessary rehabilitation. Five days before the storm, early storm warnings have been released.
- It is necessary to rehabilitate Rakhine State to be better than the original situation.
- Public roads need to be cleared as a priority. Together with the manpower of the Ministry of Home Affairs, it needs to coordinate with the Ministry of Border Affairs and Ministry of Construction for machineries.
- Red Cross Societies and health workers in respective districts and townships need to prioritize hospitals and homes for the aged for cleaning. Rescue, relief and rehabilitation tasks must be carried out in parts.
- Taking a lesson from the disaster, it needs to extend the cultivation of windbreaks and coconut plants.
- A total of K 13.181 billion donated by Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) families, members of Sangha and well-wishers have been already accepted. Of them, K7 billion will be allotted to Rakhine State for relief and rehabilitation measures.
- Myanmar naval vessels are being used for relief and assistance, and most will go to Rakhine State as quickly as possible.
- Road transport sector must be repaired quickly. Priority must be given to repairing basic education high schools for the learning of students.
- All things that we require must be done as quickly as possible. If all cooperate in relief and rehabilitation tasks, the affected areas will soonest have the original situation.
- As “the strength of a nation lies within”, we will succeed through cooperation. Offers from the international community for providing aid have been accepted. But, relief and rehabilitation tasks must be done through existing united strength in local.
- Seventeen townships of Rakhine State have been declared as disaster-hit regions for making donations to the emergency fund for undertaking relief and rehabilitation tasks.
- Although there are food reserves such as canned food and instant food, it is necessary to promptly engage in agriculture and livestock breeding in the places where they can be done. Chicken eggs will be transported as quickly as possible.
- It is good to see the least casualties despite the fall of a disaster. So, efforts are necessary to overcome.
Afterwards, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister presented K7 billion for relief and rehabilitation tasks in Rakhine State and relief supplies. The Senior General then inspected losses and damage left by the severe cyclonic storm in Sittwe and gave necessary guidance.
Rakhine State disaster management bodies have been formed to do rehabilitation tasks in the state. A total of 23,700 people from Sittwe, Mrauk-U, Maungtaw, Kyaukpyu, Thandwe, Taungup and An Townships were evacuated to safer places before the storm, and 626,849 people to other safe places. Likewise, 62,319 people from IDP camps were moved to safe areas. At the time when the storm entered Myanmar on 14 May, maximum wind speed reached between 60 mph and 120 mph. Due to the storm, homes, office buildings, and some TV retransmission and communication towers were collapsed. Up to 14 May, there were two dead persons and 28 injured persons, according to the initial information.
Source: MWD (16-5-2023)
- It is necessary to rehabilitate Rakhine State to be better than the original situation.
- A total of K 13.181 billion donated by Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) families, members of Sangha and well-wishers have been already accepted. Of them, K7 billion will be allotted to Rakhine State for relief and rehabilitation measures.
- Myanmar naval vessels are being used for relief and assistance, and most will go to Rakhine State as quickly as possible.
- Road transport sector must be repaired quickly. Priority must be given to repairing basic education high schools for the learning of students.
- Seventeen townships of Rakhine State have been declared as disaster-hit regions for making donations to the emergency fund for undertaking relief and rehabilitation tasks.
- Rakhine State disaster management bodies have been formed to do rehabilitation tasks in the state.
- At the time when the storm entered Myanmar on 14 May, maximum wind speed reached between 60 mph and 120 mph. Due to the storm, homes, office buildings, and some TV retransmission and communication towers were collapsed. Up to 14 May, there were two dead persons and 28 injured persons, according to the initial information.