Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing Delivers a Speech at Meeting of Natural Disaster Management

Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing discussed matters relating to natural disaster and left necessary instructions at the meeting of natural disaster management which was held at the meeting hall of the SAC Chairman Office on 17 September.

During the meeting, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister made remarks as follows:

• Typhoon “Yagi” and a deep depression over the West-Central and North-West Bay of Bengal caused heavy rains in some townships. Although weather warnings were issued, its forecast did not focus on unprecedented heavy rains in a short time.
• The disaster-ravaged regions had not experienced such severe conditions within 50 years. These regions suffered unprecedented loss and damage in heavy rains and flash floods at night.
• Although nobody can avoid natural disasters, they can strive to mitigate the impacts of disasters as much as possible and emphasize rapid rehabilitation. The recent incident might be the worst loss in central Myanmar in history. As such, it is necessary to take lessons from the event and address many issues.
• Forecasts and warnings on natural disasters must be easily understandable for the general public instead of using technical terms so as to follow their advice.
• While flying over the disaster affected areas on 16 September, it is regretted that landslides and collapsing slopes caused by erosion in Shan plateau and mountain ranges coming down from them which were the source of the floods; trails of erosion caused by the force of tumbling mountain streams, silt and debris remained after the floods mitigated; largescale of agricultural lands and some villages near waterflow due to flash floods.
• Regarding flash floods, the extracted logs and pieces of timber were stockpiled in the rafts and floated in the heavy rains, causing more damage and loss.
• As climatic conditions were quicker than the expected, loss and damage were occurred. It is necessary to take lessons from damage of bridges in flooding brought about by heavy rains and to build bridges with resilience to momentum of water flow systematically.
• As regards dams and embankments, silt gradually flows into the dams causing silting and raising their bed levels. Hence, it is necessary to remove silt constantly.
• Silting in rivers and creeks raises their bed levels, easily causing overflow of water and flooding. Gold panning and gemstone mining along Ayeyawady, Chindwin, and Thanlwin rivers lead to silting on the riverbed. Hence, it is necessary to dredge silt in parts of rivers and creeks.
• Flooding and inundation in urban and rural areas are based on lack of proper drainage system. Hence, relevant ministries have to improve drainage system as well as maintain the drainage system of roads, bridges, dams and drains yearly.
• With regard to rehabilitation tasks, it is necessary to provide aid for families of the dead and injured and those who lost houses. A large number of houses were lost in the flooding, and rehabilitation measures must be taken for the people who faced losses in the incident.
• Arrangements must be made for ensuring convenience of people such as providing food and accommodation at relief camps.
• At present, priority must be given to the reopening of roads and bridges affected by natural disaster so as not to interrupt public transport and commodity flow. Moreover, it needs to prioritize construction of temporary bailey bridges in the damaged ones.
• Emphasis must be placed on helping the people gathered at the relief camps for various reasons who can return to their natives.
• Cleaning up debris must be carried out at flooded villages and wards. The government will provide necessary monetary, heavy machinery and aids for carrying out rehabilitation tasks.
• A total of 226 people were dead, 47 injured, and 77 are still missing, with 12 persons floating in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, Kayah, Mon, Shan and Kayin states, Bago, Magway, Mandalay and Ayeyawady regions. Moreover, a total of 1,915 houses were totally damaged and 201 partially damaged. A total of 158,343 homes were flooded. A total of 163,573 people were accommodated at the relief camps, and 234,535 people are staying at the houses of their relatives.
• The natural disaster triggered by the recent Typhoon “Yagi” was a great lesson for Myanmar. Hence, all relevant ministries, region and state governments, Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and all military commands have to harmoniously carry out rescue, relief and rehabilitation tasks.

Next, Chairman of Natural Disaster Management Committee SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister and officials reported on the following points:

• Occurrences of natural disasters in nine regions and states affected by Typhoon “Yagi”, and damage of roads and bridges, including dams and causing landslides due to heavy rains and flash flooding;
• Undertaking of emergency rescue and relief measures at disaster-affected areas, distribution of relief aid to flood-stricken people in time, and opening of relief camps for the flood-affected people;
• Repairing of damaged roads and bridges in regions and states including Nay Pyi Taw as quickly as possible, and making field trips of teams to rehabilitate the water-ebbed areas;
• Distribution of rescue equipment and rehabilitation materials to the disaster-affected areas, preparations to repair rural roads and bridges, and supply of electricity and purified drinking water;
• Damages of roads and railways in flash floods and plans to repair damaged ones, and running of flights;
• Arrivals of humanitarian aid from AHA Centre and India and handing over them, and maintenance of mobile telecommunication towers;
• Efforts to disseminate weather warnings to people in disaster-prone areas via SMS in order to mitigate impacts. Providing international assistance of natural disaster, and the transportation of relief supplies by air and sea; and
• The Tatmadaw’s participation in rescue and relief operations for people in disaster-affected areas.

After hearing the reports, the Senior General stressed the officials as follows:

• The rescue teams are necessary to promptly remove any obstacles affecting transportation during cleanup operations, and it is necessary for systematic management of donated funds by the committee.
• Damaged roads and bridges should be repaired and reconstructed promptly to ensure uninterrupted transportation. Additionally, weather reports should be clearly and quickly communicated to the public for easy understanding.
• It is necessary to transport all cut timber to the designated timber depot areas before the rainy season to prevent any remaining timber in the forests. Furthermore, it is essential to prevent illegal logging through collaborative efforts.
• With the anticipation of natural disaster hazards, the damaged crops should be replanted systematically.
• Plans must be made to provide necessary agricultural support funds and loans. The repair of railway lines is also necessary to ensure smooth and efficient commodity flows.
• On 1st October, the process of enumerating the population and housing census would commence. Therefore, citizens in rescue camps should be returned to their respective homes as quickly as possible.
• Regarding rescue and relief efforts, the aim should be to complete them in the shortest time, with a maximum period of six months, prioritizing areas with the most significant damage.
• Schools that have been closed should be reopened promptly. If the school closure days are excessive, plans should be made to provide summer classes for additional classes.
• Today’s presentation should be compiled into a checklist to monitor completed tasks and identify pending activities, ensuring that responsible parties continuously review and report on progress.

Present were Chairman of National Disaster Management Committee SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Vice Chair 1 of the committee Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, Vice Chair 2 Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Soe Win, chairs of work committees union minister, members of the committee and officials. Region/State chief ministers participated in the meeting through videoconferencing.

 Source: MWD (18-9-2024)

• Typhoon “Yagi” and a deep depression over the West-Central and North-West Bay of Bengal caused heavy rains in some townships. Although weather warnings were issued, its forecast did not focus on unprecedented heavy rains in a short time.
• Although nobody can avoid natural disasters, they can strive to mitigate the impacts of disasters as much as possible and emphasize rapid rehabilitation. The recent incident might be the worst loss in central Myanmar in history. As such, it is necessary to take lessons from the event and address many issues.
• It is necessary to take lessons from damage of bridges in flooding brought about by heavy rains and to build bridges with resilience to momentum of water flow systematically.
• Flooding and inundation in urban and rural areas are based on lack of proper drainage system. Hence, relevant ministries have to improve drainage system as well as maintain the drainage system of roads, bridges, dams and drains yearly.
• It is necessary to provide aid for families of the dead and injured and those who lost houses. A large number of houses were lost in the flooding, and rehabilitation measures must be taken for the people who faced losses in the incident.

• A total of 226 people were dead, 47 injured, and 77 are still missing, with 12 persons floating in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, and four regions and four states. Moreover, a total of 1,915 houses were totally damaged and 201 partially damaged. A total of 158,343 homes were flooded. A total of 163,573 people were accommodated at the relief camps, and 234,535 people are staying at the houses of their relatives.
• All relevant ministries, region and state governments, Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and all military commands have to harmoniously carry out rescue, relief and rehabilitation tasks.
• Damaged roads and bridges should be repaired and reconstructed promptly to ensure uninterrupted transportation, in addition to, weather reports should be clearly and quickly communicated to the public for easy understanding.
• The aim should be to complete them in the shortest time, with a maximum period of six months, prioritizing areas with the most significant damage.
• Today’s presentation should be compiled into a checklist to monitor completed tasks and identify pending activities, ensuring that responsible parties continuously review and report on progress.