All need to be always alert to the danger of natural disasters, ready to respond and emphasize long term preventive measures, says Vice-Senior General

Continuous assessments must be conducted for the outbreak of unexpected natural disasters due to climate change, said Chairman of the National Natural Disaster Management Committee Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win at the meeting 2/2021 of the Management Committee at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
In his address, the Vice-Senior General said the meeting is to focus on preparations for subsequent natural disasters of La Nina, prevention of high heat in summer and fire preventive measures, preparations for strong winds in the pre-monsoon, and tasks to be coordinated among ministries and region and state governments.
Currently, it can be seen impacts of natural disasters and global climate change are not severe and these are regular natural disasters across the world. Hence, it is necessary to seek the best way to minimize the loss and damage in natural disasters after observing the nature of disasters and destructiveness. All need to be always alert to the danger of natural disasters, ready to respond and emphasize long term preventive measures.
According to the geographical conditions and climatic conditions, it is necessary to take preventive measures against natural disasters depending on regions and seasons and the possibility of falling disasters at any time with the response to them.
In observing the latest period of breaking out the natural disasters in seasons, although the lesser number of natural disasters may happen in the cold season, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology issued the press release on condition of La Nina found on 20 November and changes of the situation to the outbreak of moderate level of La Nina in December. Although La Nina starts in the Pacific Ocean, it may affect storms in the Bay of Bengal in the winter, with more coolness in night temperature in Myanmar due to northeast monsoon winds, effects of whirlwind from the east and untimely raining.
Despite the lesser possibility of natural disasters in a normal situation, unexpected disasters may depend on the La Nina. As such, it is necessary to assess the possibility of natural disasters based on the La Nina, issuance of forecasts and warnings.
Likewise, although the cold season faces lesser temperature, it is necessary to notice the danger of fire due to dryness. The time is related to between winter and summer, so efforts must be expedited to prevent the danger of fire. The danger of fire is a disaster to cause heavy loss of housings and property and it brings great loss to the people and the State. Hence, the formation of firefighter troops, stockpiling of fire extinguishers and vehicles must be coordinated among relevant departments and organizations for raising awareness of the danger of fire and fire preventive measures of the people.
It can be seen that strong winds hit at the end of summer and early monsoon with torrential rains and falls of hailstones. Annually, strong winds cause housing damage with terrible impacts on the people. Especially, such impacts fall on poor families. Hence, it is necessary to make preparations against the danger of strong winds.
In summary, the Vice-Senior General stressed the need for respective regions and states to make management for prevention of dangers over coolness, fire and strong winds in three seasons. Continuous assessments must be conducted for the outbreak of unexpected natural disasters due to climate change.
It is necessary to organize social organizations, professional organizations, entrepreneurs and entire people to participate in the measures of disaster risk reduction. Moreover, preparedness and proper ways and means must be arranged for responding to natural disasters under effective management.
The Vice-Senior General urged all to place more emphasis on the prevention of natural disasters, create a connection with international organizations and follow the frameworks and agreements by applying the technologies.
Vice-Chairman of the management committee Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Soe Htut reported on the progress of the management work committees and Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Thet Thet Khine on management for national natural disasters. The secretary of the management committee reported on the outbreak of natural disasters, holding of meetings and accomplishment of the minutes of the meeting 1/2021. The Secretary of the management work committee sought approvals for management fund, income and spending and balance sheet.
Union Ministers Lt-Gen Soe Htut, U Ko Ko Hlaing and Dr Thet Thet Khine discussed measures for the national natural disasters management.
Later, the Vice-Senior General stressed the need to initiate the table talk exercise for disaster management and taking exercises with the participation of entire people for prevention of disasters with least loss in respective regions. —MNA