Senior General Than Shwe visits relief camps in Yangon Division Over K 50 billion spent on relief and rehabilitation tasks so far

NAY PYI TAW, 18 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 and officials of SPDC Office flew to Yangon from Nay Pyi Taw by special flight to inspect storm-hit areas of Yangon and Ayeyawady Division this afternoon. At Yangon Command HQ Chairman of National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee Prime Minister General Thein Sein reported on relief works and rehabilitation tasks in storm-stricken regions to Senior General Than Shwe. Senior General Than Shwe made discussions on the reports and gave guidance on works to be done.
Next, Senior General Than Shwe and party visited relief camps in Hlinethaya, Dagon Myothit (South) and Dagon Myothit (North) and comforted the storm victims. State Peace and Development Council formed National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee led by the Prime Minister as the severe cyclone ‘Nargis’ hit Myanmar and the Government immediately allocated 5 billion kyats as initial fund for relief works. So far, over 50 billion kyats have been spent on relief works and rehabilitation tasks and the State will allocate
funds as necessary later.

National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee issues News Release No 2

The National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee issued News Release No 2 today.

The News Release No 2 is as follows:

News Release No 2

1. As the severe cyclone “Nargis” hit the Union of Myanmar, internal and international wellwishers have been donating cash and kind for the storm victims continuously.

2. The donations for the victims are accepted systematically by the Donation Accepting and Supervision Body and distributed without delay to the storm-hit regions by the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Committee. The distribution of donations to the storm-hit regions up to 16th May 2008 is as follows.

(a) 363.924 tons of foods, medicines, purified water bottles, clothes and tents by helicopters and aeroplanes of Tatmadaw (Air).

(b) 872.8 tons of foods, medicines, construction materials, clothes and tents by vessels of Tatmadaw (Navy)

(c) 1,471.5 tons of foods, medicines, purified water bottles, construction materials, water purifiers, clothes and tents by Tatmadaw vehicles.

(d) 2,905.5 tons of foods, medicines, construction materials, clothes and tents by vessels of Inland Water Transport.

(e) Over 500 truck loads of construction materials by 35 private construction companies daily.

3. Though it is difficult to send the relief items to different places fully and immediately, forward camps and middle camps are kept open to see that there are no needless delays.

4. Hence, the news is released that the donated relief items sent by local and international wellwishers are distributed promptly to the storm victims. The relief items reaching the victims in time and consumed by them were shown to foreign guests, foreign diplomats in the country, INGO members and the EU Commissioner. In addition, officials of UN agencies, representatives of donor countries, personnel of INGOs and individual wellwishers are also invited to witness the relief work.

National Disaster Preparedness

Central Committee

Dated: 17-5-2008
Place: Nay Pyi Taw

National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee issues News Release No 1

The National Disaster PreparednessCentral Committee issued News Release No 1 today.

The News Release No 1 is as follows:

News Release No 1

1. In the Union of Myanmar, a severe cyclone “Nargis” hit the coastal areas of Ayeyawady Division on 2nd and 3rd May 2008 causing tremendous casualties and devastation and also swept Yangon Division causing loss and damages.

2. The National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee held its meeting at 8.30 am on 3rd May 2008 in Nay Pyi Taw and the Central Committee Chairman the Prime Minister and member Ministers rushed to the storm-hit regions to provide close supervision on rescue and relief works for the victims.

3. The Government immediately allocated 5 billion kyats as initial fund and over 20 billion kyats have been spent so far. Moreover, the Government accepted donations from local and foreign wellwishers immediately and the donations were accepted as follows.

(a) Cash amounting to 5.588 billion kyats and relief items worth 1.79 billion kyats totalling 7.378 billion kyats from internal wellwishers up to 16th May.

(b) Cash amounting to 1.62 million US dollars and 2,096.71 tons of relief supplies from foreign donors up to 16th May.

4. However, some foreign news agencies broadcast false information and thus some international and regional organizations are assuming that the Government has been rejecting and preventing

aids for storm victims. Those who have been to Myanmar understand the actual fact.

5. Hence, the information is released that the Government and the people of Myanmar with thanks are accepting donations in cash and kind for the storm victims.

National Disaster Preparedness

Central Committee

Dated: 17-5-2008
Place: Nay Pyi Taw