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.