People need to overcome the challenges of natural disasters by applying experiences obtained in the outbreak of cyclonic storms Mocha in 2023 and Nargis in 2008.
Vice-Senior General Soe Win stressed that healthcare teams should be formed to despatch them to the villages which still face difficulties, and meeting discussions must be disseminated to remaining regions and states.
Chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win yesterday morning said so at the coordination meeting of the management committee to address damage in flash flooding in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area.
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-Senior General noted that flash floods, inundation and heavy rains in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, including Pyinmana, Tatkon and Lewe townships, are based on impacts of global climate change.
He stressed the need to overcome the challenges of natural disasters by applying experiences obtained in the outbreak of cyclonic storms Mocha in 2023 and Nargis in 2008. Natural Disaster Management Committees not only in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area but also in Shan, Kayin and Mon States and Magway, Mandalay, Taninthayi and Bago Regions affected by Typhoon Yagi are conducting rescue and relief measures for the people in flooding and landslides.
He underlined that disaster management committees, which are open around the clock, have to direct well-wishers to relevant relief camps for flood victims in order to make donations systematically.
The Vice-Senior General urged the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation to submit daily reports to the State Administration Council on the inflow of water to residences, as well as serious and non-serious occurrences.
He pointed out that officials must inspect the endurances of 12 dams and 12 reservoirs in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area daily to inform people from relief camps about the situations of these facilities.
He highlighted that each relief camp systematically keeps the management fund and five basic foodstuffs provided by Nay Pyi Taw Council to supply food to people from the camps daily.
He continued that as some villages are facing one-two feet deep flood, it is necessary to distribute drinking water as well as life straws, bleaching powder and water-purified tablets to residents.
The Vice-Senior General underscored that officials from hospitals, station hospitals, rural dispensaries and nurses from villages have to inform nearby treatment centres about the health conditions of people not to cause diarrhoea and mosquito- and fly-borne diseases and general infectious diseases.
He explained that healthcare teams should be formed to despatch them to the villages which still face difficulties, and meeting discussions must be disseminated to remaining regions and states and attended to the needs.
Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman U Than Tun Oo and officials reported on flash floods in Tatkon, Pobbathiri, Zeyathiri, Pyinmana and Lewe townships starting from the morning of 11 September, overflow of Hsinthay Creek, conducting rescue and relief measures in difficulties in flooded water affected by Nawin, Mone and Kintha creeks, clearing of debris starting from 12 September, 42 deaths in incidents, floating of 33 houses, start of cleaning 3,819 flooded buildings, the progress of rescue, relief and rehabilitation, the opening of 82 relief camps to accommodate some 25,000 people.
The meeting was also attended by Union Ministers Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, U Myo Thant, Dr Thet Khaing Win, Dr Soe Win, and U Min Naung and officials.
After the meeting, the Vice-Senior General inspected the 190-foot-long and 28-foot-wide Nawin Creek Bridge, damaged by erosion on the Yangon-Mandalay highway and the construction of a Bailey bridge by officials and staff of the Department of Bridges.
The 100-foot-long and 24-foot-wide Bailey with a 24-foot-wide motorway can withstand 40 tonnes of load. Its construction started on 11 September, and it can be used on 16 September.
The Vice-Senior General also inspected damage caused by flooding in residential wards and villages in the Nay Pyi Taw Council Area.
In the meeting with some 600 flood victims from Hsinthay, Pawsankhaw, Peinnabin, Zeebyupin and Hnandaw villages of Pyinmana Township at the Basic Education High School in Natthaye Village, the Vice-Senior General explained arrangements for food and accommodation, and rehabilitation and provided cash assistance and foodstuffs.
He also met some 500 flood-stricken people from flood-ravaged villages at Chanmyae Yeiktha Monastery in Tatkon Township and explained plans to provide aid for rehabilitation.
Union ministers who accompanied the Vice-Senior General discussed that as flooded water ebbed, basic foodstuffs and, purified drinking water and healthcare services must be provided for those who return to their native areas, adding people should not be fearful for misinformation about dams. They also presented cash assistance and food to the victims.
The Vice-Senior General also conversed with more than 1,000 flood victims at Tatkon BEHS No 1 and inspected the opening of a temporary clinic and stockpiling foodstuffs, clothes and relief supplies.
At flood-hit Tatkon Township Hospital (100-bed), the Vice-Senior General inspected repair works and comforted the patients.
The Vice-Senior General inspected the construction of a bailey bridge and approach roads on both sides by the Directorate of Military Engineers of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) for Nawin Creek Bridge (Thayaaye) destroyed by erosion and left instructions on the long-term existence of the Bailey Bridge with resilience of natural disaster. The Bailey Bridge is scheduled to be finished in the last week of September.
He also viewed round the 360 feet long and 55 feet wide Thaikchaung Bridge, crossing Hsinthay Creek on the Pobbathiri circular road linking Zeyathiri and Pobbathiri townships. The bridge was eroded by flooding in Hsinthay Creek.
Roads and bridges damaged by flash flooding are repaired in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area. At present, the inter-district road between Tatkon and Pyinmana townships is used to transport relief supplies and other goods so they are not delayed.
Torrential rains, which flew into the Hsinthay and Ngalaik creeks and Paung laung River, caused casualties to five of eight townships in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area. Hence, 82 relief camps are open in relevant towns and villages with efforts of Tatmadaw members, Myanmar Police Force members, firefighters, departmental personnel and charity organizations for rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures.
Currently, the water level in the Sittoung River is in danger, but people along the river have prepared to overcome the challenges of loss and damage caused by flooding. — MNA/TTA
Salient points from the speech delivered by the Vice-Senior General at the NDMC coordination meeting
1. Officials must inspect the endurances of 12 dams and 12 reservoirs in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area daily to inform people from relief camps about the situation of these facilities.
2. Each relief camp systematically keeps the management fund and five basic foodstuffs provided by Nay Pyi Taw Council to supply foodstuffs to people from the camps daily.
3. Officials from hospitals, station hospitals, rural dispensaries, and nurses from villages have to inform nearby treatment centres about people’s health conditions so as not to cause diarrhoea, mosquito- and fly-borne diseases, and general infectious diseases.
4. Since floodwaters receded, it is essential to provide basic foodstuffs and purified drinking water, as well as healthcare services to those who returned to their native areas.
