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).
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