More supplies for storm victims arrive in Yangon

supplies. IL-76 Plane carrying empty water bottles, life personal goods donated 30 bags of variety of foodstuffYANGON, 26 May — International communities are providing the storm victims with relief constructional materials, tarpaulins, kitchen utensils, and canvas tents weighing 39.629 tons donated by Malaysia-based IFRC arrived at Yangon International Airport at 8.25 am today. Similarly, five C-130 planes carrying foodstuff, plastics, tarpaulins, boats, health facilities and water purifiers weighing 44.8 tons donated by US reached the airport at 8.55 am, 10.10 am, 10.55 am, 1.34 pm and 2.45 pm. Likewise, TG-303 plane carrying 37 packages of personal goods donated by the Republic of Korea’s Red Cross Society got the same airport at 8.40 am, TG-303 plane carrying nine packages of by Switzerland RCS at 8.40 am, 3K-585 plane carrying medicines and donated by Myanmar Embassy in Singapore at 9.35 am, 8M-332 plane carrying 23 packages of clothes do donated by Baiyoke Hotel Group at 10.48 am, IL-76 plane carrying plastics rolls, blankets, medicines and tarpaulins weighing 37.78 tons donated by Dubai-based UNHCR of UAE at 10.05 am, MH- 740 plane carrying 156 packages of personal goods donated by Malaysia RCS at 11.20 am, AN- 12 plane carrying 2.64 tons of energy noodle donated by Thailand-based WFP at 11.30 am, PG- 701 plane carrying 14 packages of waterpurifing tablets donated by Myanmar Embassy in Thailand at 12.20 pm, A- 300 plane carrying 900 rolls of plastics weighing 38.9 tons donated by Britain- based Doctors Without Border at 2.10 pm, and DC-8 plane carrying constructional materials weighing 13.61 tons donated by France-based Doctors Without Border at 4.05 pm. The relief supplies donated by international communities are being distributed to the stormhit areas for the victims without delay by means of helicopters, motor cars and vessels.

Health Minister receives guests from WHO

YANGON, 26 May—Minister for Health Dr Kyaw Myint received Assistant Director General from Head Office World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva Dr Eric Jaques Laroche and resident representative Professor Adik Wibowo at temporary control department in Yangon People’s Hospital today.

In his speech. the Assistant Director General ofWHO said that WHO would continue providing medicines and medical appliances for storm victims and external medical teams providing health care service in Myanmar are to perform in accordance with the standard of health policies of Myanmar.—

Minister U Nyan Win meets Minister of State of Ministry of Commerce and Power of India

International Pledging Conference atNAY PYI TAW, 26 May – Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win met an Indian delegation led by Minister of State of Ministry of Commerce and Power who attended the ASEAN-UN the former’s office this morning. They discussed providing additional assistance for storm victims and other assistance in electric power sector and issues of mutual interest. Present were Director-General of Political Department U Pe Thann Oo and Deputy Director-General U Kyaw Tin and Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Bhaskar K Mitra.

SWRR Minister meets UNICEF regional director

YANGON, 26 May — Member of the National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj- Gen Maung Maung Swe met regional director, Ms Anupama Rao Singh of UNICEF EAPRO based in Bangkok at the Maykhala hall of Fire Services Department (headquarters) in Mayangon Township here this morning. Also present at the meeting were deputy director-general U Aung Tun Khine of Social Welfare department.

Lt-Gen Myint Swe inspects clearing of fallen trees and Lt-Gen Myint Swe inspects clearing of fallen trees and

YANGON, 26 May — Lt-Gen Myint Swe of the Ministry of Defence yesterday inspected clearing of fallen trees and reconstruction of buildings ravaged by the storm. Accompanied by Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Hla Htay Win, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor Brig- Gen Aung Thein Lin and officials, Lt-Gen Myint Swe looked into removing of fallen trees and debris along Kyaunggyi Street, Bo Thura Lane and Yongyi Street in Kyimyindine Township being carried out by staff of YCDC and Tatmadawmen of No. 11 LID. Lt-Gen Myint Swe stressed the need to replant the fallen trees that can survive, to remove fallen trees and debris as soon as possible and to educate the people to systematically dispose garbage. On arrival at U Wisara Housing compound, Lt- Gen Myint Swe and party viewed the clearing of fallen trees and debris by Tatmadawmen of No. 77 LID and heard a report presented by Commander of No. 77 LID Brig-Gen Win Myint on work carried out.

After hearing the report, Lt-Gen Myint Swe gave necessary instructions. Next, Lt-Gen Myint Swe and party looked into the clearing of debris in the compound of No 1 BEHS and renovation of the school’s roofs Lanmadaw Township and were conducted round by Director-General of No. 3

Basic Education Department U Aye Kyu and the school head. Next, they proceeded to Yangon General Hospital on Bogyoke Aung San Road where they inspected the clearing of debris by Tatmadawmen of Indaing Station and repair of the roof of the hospital’s main building.

After that, they inspected the clearing of fallen trees and debris carried out by Tatmadawmen of Hmawby Station and Taikkyi Station along Pawhsan Road and Pyithaya Road in Thingangyun Township and along Gandama Road in South Okkalapa Township and gave necessary instructions. Likewise, Lt-Gen Myint Swe and party inspected the removing of fallen trees and debris along streets in Kyimyindine, Dagon, Lanmadaw, Latha, Pabedan, Kyauktada, Pazundaung, Tamway, Thingangyun and South Okkalapa Townships.—MNA

Myanmar hosts ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference

YANGON, 25 May—Prime Minister General Thein Sein addressed Myanmar hosts ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference held at the SedonaHotel on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road here at 11 am today. It was attended by UN Secretary-General Mr BanChina, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia,Ireland,Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Laos, Luxemburg,Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines,Poland,Russia, Serbia,Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sweden,Thailand,Turkey, Britain, Ukraine,Nigeria, Brazil, Spain, Hungary, the US and Vietnam totaling 51 nations and officials of the UN Headquarters, ASEAN Secretariat, 24 international organizations such as EU, UNFPA, WHO, FAO, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNODC, WFP, ILO, UNDP, UNOPS, UNIC, IOM, IFRC, ICRC, WORLD BANK, ADB, UNAIDS, UNESCO, UNHabitat, UNHQ, OCHA, WMO, and MBC and Myanmar Business Coalition on AIDS. Prime Minister General Thein Sein chaired the conference and UN Secretary-General Mr Ban Kimoon and Under Secretary-General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr John Holmes,ASEAN Standing Committee Chairman and Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Singapore Mr George Yeo acted as members of panel of chairmen. The Prime Minister and the attendees paid a one-minute silent tribute to mourn those who died in the storm. Next, the Prime Minister made an opening speech. (The speech of the Prime Minster is reported separately). UN Secretary-General Mr Ban Kimoon made a speech. He said: I am very much encouraged by the Prime
Minister's remarks. They are fully in line with the agreement we reached with Myanmar's leadership
in recent days. I believe they herald a new spirit of cooperation and partnership between Myanmar and the international community. The government has agreed to allow all international aid workers into
the areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis, without bureaucratic hindrance and regardless of nationality
so long as the mission is purely humanitarian. There should not be any serious obstacle to organizing
effective aid and assistance operations. We also agreed, among other things, to establish several
forward logistics hubs in the affected areas, so that aid may be speedily distributed to those most in need. The government appears to be moving to implement these accords. Some international aid workers and NGOs have already gone into the regions of the Ayeyawady delta without problem. All
this will go far to meet the expectations of the international community, which sincerely wants to
help the government of Myanmar overcome this national calamity. I am heartened to be joined today by so many distinguished leaders and experienced relief experts from around the world. Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar's "rice bowl" and the heart of its fishing industry. More than 130,000 are dead or missing.A few days ago, I visited the area and saw for myself the human toll of this disaster—homes and villages and roads washed away, fields flooded, so Myanmar hosts ASEAN-UN …many livelihoods destroyed. But I also saw homes- and lives- being rebuilt. The people of the country have shown extraordinary courage and resilience in trying to save their fellowmen and to rekindle hope shattered as a result of this cruel blow. From all I have seen, the government, with the help of the international community, has put in place a functioning relief program. Experts and experienced international relief
workers, in addition to the medical teams from neighbouring countries, must have unhindered access to the areas hardest hit by the disaster. Extra transport assets, including helicopters and boats, are urgently required. Whatever is needed to build an effective aid and logistics pipeline
must be quickly put in place and be well-coordinated, both with Myanmar authorities and international aid agencies.I am encouraged by my discussions with Myanmar's leadership in
recent days. They have agreed on the need to act urgently. I expect the relief effort will run for several months, probably six months at least, as we feed and care for those who have lost everything. In parallel, our efforts must also turn to rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction.

Farmers and fishermen must be helped to resume their livelihoods. Destroyed infrastructure must be rebuilt. That is why I warmly welcome the government's agreement to join in a proposed tripartite coordination mechan ismled by ASEAN. I have said repeatedly that our immediate challenge is humanitarian. Our focus should be saving lives and helping Myanmar rebuild. There is good reason to hope that aid to the worst affected areas of Myanmar will increase significantly in the coming days. We have many generous bilateral and multilateral contributions, in cash and in kind, as well as pledges. We may need US$201 million to assist roughly 1.5 million survivors of Cyclone Nargis with emergency relief for the next three months. To date, we have contributions amounting to some 30 percent of that amount, with a further 20 percent pledged. I urge you to be more generous today. The needs remain acute —from clean water and sanitation to shelter, medical supplies and food. I am especially concerned about the lack of safe drinking water. Remember, also, that only a few weeks remain
until the rice planting season begins. Millions of people depend on this next harvest, at a time when food prices are soaring around the world. Next, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore
Mr George Yeo made a speech. He said that the today’s meeting is to focus on providing storm victims with food, shelter and medical attention. In that regard, more helicopters, road vehicles
and boats are in urgent need. In the months ahead, they will need seeds, farm machines, houses, schools and many other things in order to rebuild their lives. Therefore, we agreed
that an ASEAN-led coordinating mechanism should be set up for this purpose. This mechanism would work closely with the UN and with international and regional agencies. The ASEAN foreign ministers tasked Secretary-General Mr Surin Pitsuwan to lead an ASEAN Task Force that would work with the UN and Myanmar’s central coordinating body. I was heartened by Senior General Than Shwe’s agreement to let in aid workersfrom all countries, and thank the UN Secretary- General for working tirelessly to get us all together. At the meeting, we all should pay attention to how to provide storm victims with necessary assistance and must avoid politicizing the aid that we give. Next, the damages and loss to Myanmar caused by the storm and rehabilitationtasks being carried out were shown with the audiovisual aids. Next, Minister
for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha reported on the government’s measures onrelief and rehabilitation work in the aftermath of the storm, start of the storm Nargis, storm-hit areas, the government’s efforts, launching of relief, care and rehabilitation programmes, disease prevention and treatment, assistance from home and abroad, delivery of supplies to the storm-hit areas, death toll and missing and injured people, destruction and requirements for rehabilitation. Under Secretary- General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr John Holmes reported on international assistance in cooperation with the UN and ASEAN ASEAN Secretary- General Dr Surin Pitsuwan reported on coordination system led by ASEAN. Prime Minister General Thein Sein hosted dinner in honour of the UN Secretary-General, Under Secretary-General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, ASEAN Secretary- General, deputy prime ministers and the ministers of the nations of the world. The conference resumed at 2.25 pm. Chairman of ASEAN Standing Committee Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Mr George Yeo presided over the conference with Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan and Under Secretary-General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr John Holmes as members of Panel of Chairmen. The ministers and the deputy ministers, ambassadors, Charge d’s Affairs ai of Indonesia, the People’s Republic of China, Malaysia, Denmark, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sweden, Laos, Thailand, India, Britain, Brunei Darussalam, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Norway, the Philippines, Australia, the USA, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, France, Turkey, Slovenia, Ireland, Switzerland, Finland, Israel, Brazil, Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, EU, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Nepal and the Russian Federation, delegates of WFP, IOM, World Bank, ADB, ICRC and Save the Children pledged financial and other assistance. Next, Prime Minister and the UN Secretary-General arrived at the hotel and attended the conference at
5.15 pm. The conference ended at 5.30 pm with concluding remarks by Chairman of ASEAN Standing Committee Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Mr George Yeo.
After the conference, the Prime Minister cordially greeted the participants. Next, Under Secretary- General of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr John Holmes, Chairman of ASEAN Standing Committee Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Mr George Yeo, ASEAN Secretary-General Mr. Surin Pitsuwan and Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win met journalists from local and foreign countries and they replied to the queries raised by journalists at the press conference.

More relief supplies from abroad arrive at Yangon International Airport

YANGON, 25 May — DC-8 flight carrying 40 tons of plastic roll provided by Dubai based UNHCR Office of UAE,A-310 flight carrying seven tons of solar system lights, tents, emergency health equipment, mosquito nets, water purifier and its related materials by Germany, IL-76 flight carrying 38 tons of blankets, kitchen utensils and tarpaulin by Malaysia-based IFRC, AN-12 flight carrying 12.29 tons of tents, water purifiers and its related equipment and nitric acid by Thailand-based WFP, AN-12 flight carrying 14.9 tons of 1,662 packages of foodstuff by Sri Lanka, five C-130 flights carrying 65 tonsofplastics sheets, water bottles, bottles of purified drinking water, foodstuff, tarpaulin and healthequipment by the US, MD-11 flight carrying 73 tons of food and medicines by Saudi Arabia and AN-12 flight carrying 2.64 tons of energy dried noodles by Thailand arrived at Yangon International
Airport today. Likewise, two AN- 12 flights carrying 24 tons of kitchen utensil, medicines and health
equipment and tarpaulin provided by Thai-based UNHCR arrived at the same airport yesterday evening. Officials systematically accepted the relief supplies and promptly sent them to the stormhit
regions without delay.

Prime Minister receives Chinese FM

NAY PYI TAW, 25 May — Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Thein Sein received Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Yang Jiechi of the People’s Republic of China and party at the Ahlon Hall of Sedona Hotel on Kaba-Aye Pagoda Road, herethis afternoon. Present also were Minister for National
Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister for Health Dr Kyaw Myint and departmental heads and Chinese Ambassador Mr Guan Mu.

MWAF donates rice bags to storm victims

Head of International Relations Department of Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation Daw Myint Myint Soe, wife of the minister for Foreign Affairs, and Daw Lei Lei Kyi , wife of deputy minister for Foreign Affairs, and members donated 20 bags of rice worth K 500, 000 to storm victims of ward-17 in Dagon Myothit (South) this morning.

Prime Minister receives ASEAN Standing Committee Chairman and party

NAY PYI TAW, 25 May
—Prime Minister of theUnion of Myanmar General Thein Sein received Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Mr George Yeo and party at the Ahlon Hall of Sedona Hotel on Kaba- Aye Pagoda Road, here, this morning.Present also at the callwere Minister for ForeignAffairs U Nyan Win,Minister for Social Welfare,Relief and ResettlementMaj-Gen Maung Maungshwe, Minister for HealthDr Kyaw Myint, Director- General Col Thant Shin of Government Office, Director-General U Kyaw Kyaw of Protocol Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Singaporean Ambassador Mr Robert Chua Hian Kong.

Saudi King donates relief supplies to storm victims

A ceremony to hand over relief supplies for storm victims donated by the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz al Saud of Saudi Arabia was held at the lounge of Yangon International Airport at 3 pm today.Present on the occasion were Director- General of Fire Services Department U Myint Tun and departmental officials, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Myanmar Mr Turki Bin Naji Al Ali and officials.The Saudi Arabian Ambassador explained the purpose of the donations and anded over the list of relief supplies to the director-general who expressed thanks.The donations include various kinds of foods,
gram, blankets, plastic bags and medicines weighing 73.04 tons.More relief supplies from Saudi Arabia will continue to arrive here, it is learnt.

Prime Minister receives Indian Minister of State of Ministry of Commerce and Power

—Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Thein Sein received Minister of State of the Ministry of Commerce and Power Mr Tairam Ramesh of the Republic of India at the Ahlon Hall of Sedona Hotel on Kaba-Aye Pagoda Road, here, this afternoon.
The meeting was also attended by Minister for Health Dr Kyaw Myint,departmental heads and Indian Ambassador Mr Bhaskar Kumar Mitra.

Prime Minister receives Deputy PM of SRV

NAY PYI TAW, 25 May —Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Thein Sein received Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Pham Gia Khiem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and party at the Ahlon Hall of Sedona Hotel on Kaba-Aye Pagoda Road, here, this morning.
Also present on the occasion were Minister forForeign Affairs U Nyan Win, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj-Gen Maung Maung Swe, Minister for Health Dr KyawMyint,Director-General Col Thant Shin of Government Office, Director-General U Kyaw Kyaw of Protocol Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese AmbassadorMr Tran Van Tung.

Prime Minister General Thein Sein attends ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference , Myanmar warmly welcomes any assisatand and aid prdsented ......

Yangon,25 May- The followinf is the full text of address delivered today by Prime Minister General Thein Sein at the ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference .

Excellency Mr Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Excellency Mr George Yeo, Chairman of the ASEAN Standinf Committee
Distinguished Ministers
Excellency Dr Surin Pitsuwan,Secretary-General of ASEAN
Delegates from donor countries
Excellencies, Ladies aenf Gentlemen
May, I first of all, say that the Government and the people of Myanmar extend our warmest welcome to all of you. May I also on behalf of the people of Myanmar, would like to express our deep appreciation to all of you for your presence and your readiness to provide aid and assistance to cyclone victioms at this critical time.

I would also like to reiterate our gratitude to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Foreingn Ministers of the AESEAN member countries,Ministers and delegates from deonr countries, Secretary-General of ASEAN and United Nations Agencies, representations of INGOS and international community,for their presence today at the ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference.

The Cyclone Nargis that hit Myanmar on the 2nd and 3rd May, was of unprecedented intensity in our history. The radius of the storm was about 200 miles wide and the wind speed at the eye of the storm ranged from 120 to 150 miles per hour. The strong wind was accompanied by surging tidal waves that ranged from 7 to 12 feet in height.

Consequently, 7 townships in Ayeyarwady Division and 40 townships in Yangon Division were severely affected. The strong winds and the accompanying high tidal waves have caused heavy losses of human lives, farming cattle, livestocks as well as extensive damages to properties . Some of the villages were completely wiped out due to the storm and the tidal waves.

According to the data collected to date, 77,738 people were confirmed dead, 55,917 were still missing and 19,359 were injured and there were huge loss in properties and material damaged. I won\\\'t be going in details of the damages cauesd by the cyclone Nargis as Minister U Soe Tha of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development will be giving a briefing on this later.

On 3rd May, the same day when the storm made its landfall, an emergency cabinet meeting was held presided by me and we rushed to the storm hit areas to carry out immediate rescue operations. On 4th May, at the supervision of the cabinet ministers many homeless victims totaling 1,064,623 were rescued and evacuated to temporary shelters at 12 front-line camps, and 5 base camps. Emergency relief items such as food and drinking water are also delivered by using helicopters and boats, to some villages.

Up to now the emergency search and rescue measure have completed to some extend and we are currently carrying out relief and rehabilitation measures by providing food, clothing and shelters to the victims. Our effotes were greatly benefited from the large aumount of humanitarian assistance that has poured in from local and international wellwishers. To date, we have received 3273.20 tons of humanitarian supplies that have been delivered by international donors were immediately distributed by using motorizes boats, ships and helocopters to the victims of the cyclone.

While we are able to provide the storm victims with basic requirments such as food and clothing, the monsoon season is approaching and our present concern is to provide adequate temporary shelters for the victims, to enable them to resume their daily economic activities . We are now providing victims with shelters built using locally available bamboo and timber and using tarpaulin and plastics sheets as roofing materials. We are using the tents, tarpaulins and plastic sheets donates from home and abroad to provide the necessary shelters.

For emergency relief and rehabitaion, the Government has allocated initial expenses of 5 billion Kyats to start with and so far the government has spent to the amount of 70 billions Kyats. Once again , I would like to reitarate our profound thanks to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his leadership taking prompt action enabling the United Nations and its agencies to expeditiously and effectively assinst in our relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Our appreciations also go to other donor Gonernments, International NGOs, NGOs and individual welllwishers for their financial and material contributions.

I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to our neighbours China, India, Bangladesh and ASEAN members such as Thailand , Laos and Singapore that have dispatched medical teams to provide medical care to the victims in 0rder to prevent epidemics that we usually encounter in the aftermath of natural disaster. We will accept additional medical teams from other countries in an orderly and systematic manner.

In closing, I would like to invire experts and wellwishers to extend their help in our preventive measures such as raising the levels of embankments , building temporary shelters in high grounds and paving causeways through swampy areas linking villages etc in order to miniminze casualties and damages in the event of such severe cyclone in the future. With your assintance I feel confident that we will be able to successfully overcome the challenge should we encounter similar cyclones,

I thank you all .

Senior General Than Shwe inspects relief and rehabilitation work in Yangon Division Rebuilding of main livelihoods of local people necessary

NAY PYI TAW, 19 May – Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-
Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, accompanied by General Thura Shwe
Mann of the Ministry of Defence, member of SPDC Lt-Gen Tin Aye, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Soe Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Myat Hein, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Paing Soe, senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence and officials of SPDC Office, arrived in Yangon from Nay Pyi Taw by Tatmadaw aircraft yesterday to inspect relief and rehabilitation work in storm-hit areas in Yangon and Ayeyawady Divisions. Senior General Than Shwe was welcomed at
Yangon International Airport by Prime Minister General Thein Sein, Lt- Gen Myint Swe of the Ministry of Defence, Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Hla Htay Win, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor Brig-Gen
Aung Thein Lin and senior military officers. At 2.20 pm at Yangon Command, Chairman of National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee Prime Minister General Thein Sein and members reported on relief work and resettlement in storm-hit areas in Yangon and Ayeyawady Divisions. Senior General
Than Shwe gave necessary guidance. Present were General Thura Shwe Mann of the Ministry of Defence, Prime Minister General Thein Sein, members of SPDC Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than and Lt-Gen Tin Aye, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Soe Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Myat Hein, Lt-Gen Myint Swe of the Ministry of Defence and Commander Maj-Gen Hla Htay Win. Prime Minister General Thein Sein said duties were assigned to members of NDPCC ministers to carry out region-wise relief work. Achievements have been made due to the
cooperation of social organizations, local people, departmental personnel, national entrepreneurs and
artistes.He said priority was given to food, clothing and shelter needs and health care services of the storm victims in relief camps. Now work can be done properly, he added. He said national entrepreneurs and social organizations are taking part in reconstruction of damaged buildings by the
storm. As regards the health of the victims, the physicians from central level joining hands with local
health staff are carrying out disease preventive measures. He said relief measures are being taken in
storm-hit areas and arrangements are being made for local people to live in shelter. Most of the
local people began to live in their own places. Arrangements have also been made for rebuilding of
their houses in the open season, he said. He said as the second phase, necessary assistance is being provided for farmland reclamation, establishment of tractor stations and cultivation camps and fishing in storm-affected areas. Relief work and health care services can now be handled and tasks for reconstruction of buildings and houses in flooded areas are being implemented, he added. Lt-Gen Myint Swe and the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) reported on measures taken in stormhit areas in Yangon Division and Hainggyi Island. The Senior General said that it was necessary to keep accurate records of the affected areas in order that resettlement work could be carried out systematically and effectively.Resettlement work had to be assigned to the troops deployed regionwise. In the first stage,
temporary shelters should be set up in the affected regions for the victims to be able to return to their
respective towns and villages. Enough plastic sheets should be provided. And at the same time, measures should be taken for building strong houses when the rainy season was over. Moreover, roofing sheets should be provided sufficiently for the remaining houses and other buildings. To provide health care ervices, temporary clinics have been opened in strategic areas and more health assistants should be appointed. Regarding education, measures should be taken for the reopening of
schools up to basic education level. For the time being, priority should be given to supply of food
and safe drinking water. Moreover, it was necessary to rebuild the main livelihoods of the local people – fisheries, agriculturel and salt-making industries. Reclamation of land would have to be done for
agriculture, small boats, powered boats and fishing nets provided for fisheries and salterns prepared
for salt works. In the first stage, the needs for food, clothing, shelter and medical care should be met and at the same time development work such as reconstruction of villages, resettlement, livelihood, transport and communication would have to be done. In the second stage, besides development work, coconut and betel nut trees should be planted in front of houses, embankments built behind houses and bridges constructed where necessary to prevent natural disasters. Shortly after Cyclone Nargis hit, the State Peace and Development Council formed the National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee with the Prime Minister as its head and initially allotted K 5 billion for relief operation.
However, over K 50 billion has been spent on relief and reconstruction work up to now and the overnment will use more funds if and when necessary. Senior General Than Shwe and party visited
relief camps in Yangon Division and comforted the victims. At 3.40 pm, Senior General Than Shwe and party went to Atwinpadan relief camp in Hlinethaya Township. They inspected accommodation of the victims in the tents donated by nations of the world. Senior General Than Shwe inspected water supply for the victims and cordially greeted them. He also inspected arrival of relief items, installation
of hand pumps and construction of flyproof latrines and repair of No 7 Basic Education Middle School before the school season and gave guidance. Senior General Than Shwe and party went to special relief camp on Yadanabon Street in Ward 17 in Dagon Myothit (South). He cordially met the victims in the camp and the clinic. Senior General Than Shwe and party also met the victims in the relief camp on Maungmagan Kantha Road in Ward 16 in Dagon Myothit (North).

Senior General Than Shwe meets storm victims Government takes prompt action to carry out relief and rehabilitation work

NAY PYI TAW, 19 May—Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander- in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe this morning inspected stormhit Kungyangon in Yangon Division and storm-hit Dedaye and Pyapon in Ayeyawady Division and consoled storm victims there.
Accompanied by General Thura Shwe Mann of the Ministry of Defence, Member of the SPDC Lt-Gen Tin Aye, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Soe Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen
Myat Hein, Lt-Gen Myint Swe of the Ministry of Defence Chairman ofYangon Division PDC Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Hla Htay Win, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Htay Oo,
Deputy Minister for Health Dr Paing Soe, senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence, officials
of the SPDC Office, Senior General Than Shwe arrived in Kungyangon by Tatmadaw helicopter at 7.50 .
Next, Senior General Than Shwe and party inspected condition of storm-hit Kungyangon and rehabilitation work in a motorcade. At the briefing hall of the relief camp at Aung San Thuriya Hla
Thaung Sports Ground, Senior General Than Shwe heard a report presented by Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi on loss and damages in Kungyangon Township, distribution of relief supplies, and reconstruction of hospitals, schools, government offices and religious buildings by Asia World Co and progress of rehabilitation and reconstruction tasks.
After attending to the needs, Senior General Than Shwe gave guidance, saying that the government took prompt action to carry out the relief and rehabilitation work in storm-hit regions shortly after the storm, and has laid down and is implementing the three phases of Disaster Preparedness Programme. And it has spent K 50 billion of funds on the project.In the first phase, priority is being given to
fulfilling the food, clothing and shelter needs of storm victims and prompt medical attention. In the
second phase, reconstruction of ravaged villages,accommodation of local people, renovation of roads, bridges and communication links and rehabilitation tasks such as opening of temporary clinics and schools are being carried out in affected villages, he added. In the meantime, measures for regenerating agricultural, fishing and salt-making works and providing cattle, tractors, boats and fishing nets to storm-hit regions are being taken. In the third phase, steps are to be taken for
growing of windbreakers capable of preventing disaster and building of causeways linking villages, he
disclosed, and stressed the need for officials to carry out relief and rehabilitation works and take disaster preparedness measures in an effective way. Next, Senior General Than Shwe greeted and
consoled storm victims being accommodated in shelter boxes at the relief camp. After that, Senior General Than Shwe looked into clinics of Directorate of Medical Services. At 9.10 am, Senior General Than Shwe and party arrived at the relief camp in Kyonda Village, Dedaye Township where they heard a report presented by Minister Brig-Gen Lun Thi on opening of the relief camps in villages of the township. And Senior General Than Shwe gave necessary instructions.Later, Senior General Than Shwe and party viewed medical treatment being given to storm victims of the relief camp. Next, they looked into measures taken for supply of electricity through solar power system, opening of CDMA Station, supply of drinking water, supply of electricity to the relief camp with generators and cooking with the use of gas stoves, and greeted storm victims. Next, Senior General Than Shwe and party
proceeded to Pyapon where they were welcomed by Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung, Commander of South-West Command Brig-Gen Kyaw Swe and Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Soe Naing. Accompanied by the Adjutant-General, the Commander and ministers, Senior General Than Shwe inspected measures being taken for rehabilitation of Pyapon. On arrival at Saya Zawgi Yapyi Hall, Senior General Than Shwe heard a report presented by Minister Maj-Gen Soe Naing on loss and damages in storm-hit Pyapon and Kyaiklatt Townships, opening of relief camps, distribution of relief items, supply of drinking water, medical treatment given by Directorate of Medical Services, local health staff and doctors from India, prevention of waterborne and infectious diseases and reconstruction work being carried out by Dagon International Co, Yuzana Co and Pyae Phyo Kyaw Co. The commander gave a supplementary report. After hearing the reports, Senior General Than
Shwe gave guidance, saying that the nation-building endeavours cannot be carried out by the government alone. The policy of the State is that only when the State, the Tatmadaw and the people make concerted effort will the nation-building endeavours meet with success. In line with the policy, the Tatmadaw has been striving together with the people under the leadership of the State in building of the nation since its assumption of the State responsibilities, he noted. The nation has been able to overcome any crisis and difficulty through the concerted efforts of the State, the Tatmadaw and the people, he said. The country was hit hard by the severe storm but relief and rehabilitation works are being carried out through the concerted efforts. In future also, the nation-building endeavours
will be carried out in line with the policy of the State and it is sure that the nation will meet with success in the long-run. In addition to relief and reconstruction work, continued efforts will be made for disaster preparedness, he disclosed. In that regard, causeways linking villages and embankments need to be built in coastal regions and regions close to the sea. And hospitals and dispensaries
in storm-hit regions are to be upgraded while striving for upgrading of 200-bed hospitals and 100-
bed hospitals in major cities and opening of more rural health care centres in strategic regions.
Next, Senior General Than Shwe and party went to Relief Camp No 1 where they inspected the
accommodation of the victims. He then comforted and encouraged the victims. The Senior General
looked into supply of drinking water. Senior General Than Shwe and party inspected reconstruction of Pyapon People’s Hospital by car. Next they proceeded to Dedaye, Pyapon District, in the afternoon and inspected reconstruction tasks there. On arrival at the control office in Bogyoke Street, Senior General Than Shwe heard a report by Energy Minister Brig-Gen Lun Thi on damage to Dedaye, rescue work, distribution of relief supplies and reconstruction and resettlement tasks being carried out by Eden Group Co. Commander Brig-Gen Kyaw Swe reported on matters related to surplus rice and rerunning of rice mills and Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Htay Oo on reclamation of land and repair of dams and reservoirs. Senior General Than Shwe gave necessary instructions. Next, he and party went to the relief camp near Dedaye Bridge where they inspected accommodation and comforted the victims. Later, the Senior General enquired about the providing of health care by medical staff and arrived back in Yangon in the afternoon.

Destruction Photos after Cyclone Nargis