Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win addresses second (emergency) meeting of National Natural Disaster Management Committee
NAY PYI TAW May 14
The second (emergency) meeting of the National Natural Disaster Management Committee was held at the National Disaster Management Centre of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement in Nay Pyi Taw this afternoon and Chair of the NNDMC Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win delivered an address at the meeting.
Also present at the meeting were union ministers, the chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries, directors general and official while chief ministers from states and regions participated in the meeting via video conferencing.
First, the Vice-Senior General arrived at the Natural Disaster Management Centre and heard reports on latest developments about the very severe cyclonic storm Mocha presented by Head of the centre Daw Thiri Maung.
Then, the Vice-Senior General delivered an address saying the meeting is a national-level emergency meeting and the very severe cyclonic storm (Mocha) has developed about 80 miles to the west and southwest of Sittwe and about 85 miles away from Maungtaw area at a speed between 130 to 137 mile per hour, according to measurements made at 10 am by the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
It was learnt that the storm surge would be as high as 20 feet, according to the latest forecast.
It was learnt that the wind has weakened in Kyaukpyu, Thandwe and Marnaung at the eye of the storm, leaving some damage. Meteorologists have forecast that the eye of the storm will pass through Sittwe and Maungtaw at about 3 pm today.
On 6 May before the very severe cyclonic storm (Mocha), a meeting of the NNDMC was held in accordance with the guidance of the Prime Minister and directives were issued and mock rehearsal were conducted for nine days in forecast affected areas in line with natural disaster projects and directives in force. During the post cyclone period, respective departments are required to be prepared and respective ministries are required to make relief efforts along the trail of the storm. It is necessary for members of the committee to cooperate in resettlement tasks. Only then, will the situation return to normal as soon as possible. Participants are urged to frankly report measures to be taken during the post cyclone period.
Then, Deputy Director General of the DMH Daw Tin Yi reported to the committee on the latest development of the storm.
Afterward, vice chairpersons of the NNDMC union ministerLt-Gen Soe Htut and Dr Thet Thet Khaing reported to the meetin on measures taken by the NNDMC, preparations search and rescue operations, evacuation of residents along the storm trail, efforts to prevent disruption of communication in low lying areas, broadcasting weather forecasts in real time, procurement and storage of reserve rice for affected areas in different storage facilities, storage of medical supplies, basic foodstuffs and relief items and measures taken for rescue and cooperation in affected areas.
Then, union ministers and chairpersons of work committees deputy ministers reported to the meeting on emergency response in affected areas, proposals from some countries and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management(The AHA Centre) to supply relief items and assistance, measures taken for agriculture and livestock breeding during the post cyclone period, floods caused by heavy rainfalls during the storm, possibilities of flash floods in streams and landslide and inundations in irrigation facilities, broadcasting news to the people in real time, supplying clean drinking water, measures taken for uninterrupted electricity supply, immigration tasks, labour affairs, healthcare services, rehabilitation and resettlement during the postcyclone period, preparations for transportation, preparations for prevention of disruption of communication, spending funds in accordance with rules and regulations.
Then, the chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council and chief ministers from Kachin and Chin states and Sagaing, Magway and Ayeyawady regions, senior military officers, deputy ministers and officials discussed coordination among relevant departments for disaster response, preparations for search and rescue operations, awarenessraising tasks for cyclones, preparations for rehabilitation, reconstruction and healthcare, rehabilitation of occupations, procurement of emergency rations and relief items, storage of reserve rice, establishing natural disaster management offices, security measures, conducting survey for initial emergency needs, environmental conservation, measures for transportation, preparation for publishing news and deployment of vehicles from the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy, Air).
Then, participants reported on measures taken to respond to cyclone Mocha and the Vice-Senior General coordinated the needs.
The meeting came to a close with concluding remarks by the Vice-Senior General.