Words of encouragement and relief aids for flood victims
NAY PYI TAW August 1
Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Chairman of National Disaster Management Committee Deputy Commander- in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win, accompanied by Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Maung Ko, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander- in-Chief, Central Command Commander Maj-Gen Ko Ko Oo, deputy ministers and officials, met flood victims of the heavy rains that poured down on 31 July in PyinOoLwin, Mandadaly Region.
At the Station briefing hall, the Vice-Senior General and party heard a report on the swollen Galaung creek, the extent of loss, and relief and rescue operations presented by Station Commander Brig-Gen Zaw Min Latt and Mayor U Kyaw Hsan with the help of power-point. The chief minister also presented an additional report.
The Vice-Senior General said the excellent preparatory measures had lessened the damage to the most possible degree.
He stressed cooperation between locals and departments to the clear the debris in nine effected wards of the town, and explained the draining of the seven-mile long creek from the source to BE Falls. He called for taking quick measures in repairing damaged facilities and carrying out rescue and rehabilitation missions. He also looked into the requirements in aids provision programs of Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and in restoring the flower city in accord with the guidance of the Prime Minister.
The Vice-Senior General and party then observed the damage caused by floods at BE Falls, Kandawlay outlet, a lake, sluicegates and wards.
The Vice-Senior General then met and comforted about 250 flood victims at the sport stadium of PyinOoLwin. He said PyinOoLwin has experienced record rainfall in 30 years, and there was up to 10.47 inches of rain in about eight hours.
Officials concerned reported to him on a timely basis so, management matters were coordinated as necessary.
He said he arrived here on behalf of the Prime Minister to coordinate the needs to be fulfilled.
The Vice-Senior General pointed out several reasons for natural disasters such as nature and depleting ecosystem caused by human activities, slashand-burn farming, excessive logging and carbon-emitting industries. He said the government has taken preparedness measures against various natural disasters and to overcome them. Due to the 31 July flooding, some homes, and fences of
some administrative buildings and schools were damaged or destroyed while about 400 people were evacuated. But, thanks to the cooperative efforts of authorities, the Tatmadaw, Myanmar Police Force, aid organizations and local people, there was least damage and situation returned to normal within nine hours. He also praised the measures to clear and unblock the ditches every week.
He then called for continued such measures and stressed the need for everyone to take their own responsibility for prevention of floods within their compounds and for authorities including the development committee to take responsibility for proper drainage in ditches and creeks.
It is necessary to immediately follow relief and healthcare tasks up at the township to region level after the current flooding and report on the difficulties to the State Administration Council. Taking measures in responding to such an unexpected disaster at the lowest losses in a short time is a result of all-together cooperation between administration bodies, security teams, social organizations and the residents of the town. That is recognized. It is necessary to continue to make concerted efforts to overcome natural and man-made disasters.
Then, the Vice-Senior General provided cash assistance for the flood victims through officials and the Chief Minister of Regional Government disaster relief aid. On behalf of the flood victims, an official thanked them for the relief aid.
Afterwards, the Vice-Senior General and party cordially greeted the flood victims and rescue teams and encouraged them.
There were torrential rains in PyinOoLwin from 2 to 10 am on July 31 with a record 10.47 inches of rainfall in 30 years.
The heavy rains made the water level of Gelaung Creek higher causing flood to nine of 21 neighborhoods while the flood was four feet in depth in some residential wards. The creek flows two and half miles through the town’s area. It is an important creek for the town. The creek water comes from the spilled water of Kandawlay and Kandawgyi reservoirs in PyinOoLwin. As the reservoirs’
spillway gates were repaired and maintained, the reservoirs did not burst in such a situation of heavy rains, and if not, the risk of loss and damage to PyinOoLwin might be huge.
Residents of flooded neighborhoods and personnel of security forces and government departments are collaboratively carried out the tasks to clean the residential wards in the town.