SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win delivers speech at meeting 1/2024 of National Disaster Management Committee
Nay Pyi Taw May 24
The meeting 1/2024 of National Disaster Management Committee took place at the assembly hall of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement in Nay Pyi Taw this afternoon, with an address by Chairman of the Management Committee Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win.
Also present at the meeting were union ministers, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, deputy ministers, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, departmental heads and officials together with chief ministers of regions and states through video conferencing.
First, the Vice-Senior General said that the meeting was held with four objectives. At the Union government meeting 2/2024 held on 22 April 2024, the Prime Minister discussed possible dangers in climate change. This meeting must discuss the further plans for such situations as the first point. For the second point, work committee and region and state national disaster management committees including that of the Nay Pyi Taw have to coordinate the natural disaster management measures. With regard to the third point, it is necessary to discuss the funds of the national disaster management, accomplishment of work process and future plans. Moreover, the meeting needs to seek the approvals for the funds of the management committee as the fourth point.
At the Union government meeting, the Prime Minister gave guidance, saying that it is necessary to take lessons from the past event of climate changes and to consider how to make preparations to prevent these dangers.
The assignments of the work for the management committee mention formation of necessary bodies to implement the process of the committee, adopting policies for important tasks among others and give necessary guidance by reviewing the work progress of the committee.
Hence, it is necessary to analyze strong and weak points over the past events to implement the work processes of future plans. In reviewing the natural disasters, climate changes were based on natural disasters in 2023-2024 period despite having some manmade problems.
Currently, global countries including Myanmar are suffering impacts of El Nino and La Nina. The two are events of climate changes from normal climatic conditions. Experts remarked that severe climatic conditions may cause impacts not only in eastern shores of Pacific Ocean but at shores of southern Asia.
Due to global warming, the average temperature of the world is rising year after year in comparison between temperature in 1850-1900 and current temperature. El Nino triggers global warming with higher temperature.
It can be seen that lower El Nino started in May 2023 in global countries and it became a moderate intensity in July and August. From September 2023 to February 2024, El Nino became the strong conditions. It is expected to cause the low intensity of event till May 2024 and the climatic conditions will turn into normalcy from June to October, according to the world weather watchdog.
Due to impacts of El Nino, global countries faced extremely severe storms, high speed of strong winds and low depression as a record in 2023 in addition to strong earthquakes, strong winds, heavy rains and flesh flooding.
At the same time, glaziers faced melting in the world with falling thick mist. Myanmar also faced impacts of extremely severe cyclone Mocha and strong winds on 14 May 2024.
Moreover, statements showed that the global countries suffered hotness, droughts, shortage of water, forest fire, volcanic eruption, flows of molten lava, strong winds, floods and falling hailstones triggered by El Nino in summer of 2024, and Chauk, Magway, Minbu and NyaungU of Myanmar were involved on the list of 15 world’s hottest cities.
According to the Department of Metrology and Hydrology, some 30 meteorological observatory camps conducted measurements till mid-May 2024, showing 50 times of recorded temperatures. Due to the high temperature, cumulonimbus clouds occurred in some regions and strong winds destroyed flight routes much.
AHA Centre compiled the data on natural disasters in ASEAN region from 2023 to the period from January to May 2024, showing earthquakes, floods, landslides and volcanic eruption 829 times in 2023 and 539 more times in the five months period from January to May 2024. It indicated larger number of natural disasters increased. It can be seen that natural disasters caused US$-642.4 million worth of loss in 2023 and US$-22.4 million worth of loss from January to May 2024. According to the table of natural disasters, danger of flooding was the worst. As monsoon will fall in Myanmar soon, it is necessary to make preparations. Moreover, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology of the Ministry of Transport and Communications forecast that a yellow colour level of a depression over the Ba of Bengal may become a severe cyclonic storm. On 26 May, it may enter India and Bangladesh. Due to impact of the storm, a warning of storm has been issued for coasts of Rakhine State and Ayeyawady Region. Hence, relevant region and state governments need to make preparations and conduct rehearsal against the disasters like storm Mocha.
Due to the storm’s intensity, there are storm warnings along the coastal areas, including Rakhine State and Ayeyawady Region. The respective state and regional governments are also required to carry out advance warnings, necessary preparations, and drills similar to those conducted for Cyclone Mocha. Although there is no storm intrusion, it is necessary to anticipate and prepare for the possibility of high waves in Myanmar’s sea, heavy rains along the coastal areas, strong winds, and subsequent flooding and landslides. It is also important to continuously warn and inform the local residents.
In 2023, significant wildfires occurred globally, notably in Ghana and Nigeria. In Greece, the Dadia National Park, covering 175,000 hectares, suffered severe damage to wildlife and the natural environment due to extensive wildfires. Flooding events took place in May 2023 in Congo, Chile, California (USA), and Brazil, leaving over a hundred thousand people homeless. An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck the border between Türkiye and Syria, causing widespread destruction and loss. Cyclones also hit Greece, Türkiye, and Libya.
In May 2023, during the occurrence of Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar, under the leadership and guidance of the Prime Minister, various ministries and organizations conducted advance preparations. The Disaster Management Committees of the regions and states also carried out preparations and drills. Due to the collective efforts of all the staff during the incident, the danger posed by Cyclone Mocha was successfully mitigated within a short time, resulting in minimal damage and loss. Since natural disasters cannot be prevented by anyone, lessons learned from past experiences, including Cyclone Mocha, will be used to implement proactive measures, preparations, drills, emergency response, and rescue operations, as well as timely and efficient recovery efforts in accordance with established procedures.
The Standing Order on Natural Disaster Management (2022), approved at the National Disaster Management Committee meeting (1/2022), outlines procedures for the work committee. However, some ministries, regions, and states have yet to compile and submit their reports. It is therefore crucial to expedite the drafting and submission process in accordance with the Standing Order on Natural Disasters(2022).
Given the unpredictable nature of natural disasters, having local standing orders in place is essential for timely response. These orders provide valuable insights into past processes, enabling us to prepare for future events. Ministries, state, and regional disaster management committees must prioritize immediate action.
Regarding the allocation of funds for natural disaster management, the Prime Minister has established a clear policy. Cyclone shelters have been constructed in coastal and mountainous areas prone to strong winds, irrespective of whether recent floods or storms have occurred. The Prime Minister has approved fund allocations without deductions based on reports from relevant ministries, regional, and state governments. With a focus on preventing loss of life, officials from regional and state disaster management committees must ensure the timely completion of these buildings. Continuous supervision and efforts are necessary for long-term strength and quality improvement.
The National Disaster Management Committee and officials from ministries and regional/ state natural disaster management committees should be aware of their duties and emergency response in the event of a natural disaster. For relief and rehabilitation activities and future work, suggestions and discussions are invited, the Vice-Senior General said.
Committee Vice Chairmen Union Ministers Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and Dr Soe Win clarified awareness campaigns and preparedness measures for relief and resettlement if a disaster comes.
Committee Secretary Deputy Minister explained the progress in the implementation of the previous meeting resolutions and the availability, expense and balance of the committee’s funds.
Then, the union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman, region/state chief ministers, deputy ministers and officials discussed committee’s funds, progress in work and preparedness measures.
The director general of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology reported on the situation of the depression forming in the Bay of Bengal.
The Work Committee Secretary Disaster Management Department director general read out the resolutions of the meeting (1/2024) and sought approval.
Later, the Vice-Senior General coordinated necessary matters and gave a concluding remark.