Disaster Management: Dy C-in-C Addresses Committee’s Meeting 1/2021

Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice Senior General Soe Win chairing the National Natural Disaster Management Committee addressed the Committee’s meeting 1/2021 on Thursday afternoon.

The Vice-Senior General said that natural disasters happen across the world every year which were triggered by impacts of global warming, extreme logging of trees, deforestation and forest fires. Myanmar experienced natural disasters based on natural situations within ten years from 2000 to 2010, with 23 per cent for the outbreak of fire, 11 per cent for flooding, 12 per cent for storms and four per cent for earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides. Yearly, nine kinds of natural disasters, namely storms, tidal waves, flooding, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts, fire outbreaks and forest fires, fall in Myanmar.

In this regard, the National Natural Disaster Management Committee needs to solve three parts - the first part is to make preparations, the second is to carry out immediate rescue works and the third is to undertake rehabilitation in addition to take preventive measures, preparedness, searching and rescue and rehabilitation.

Chairpersons of the region and state administration councils need to lead the process of solving the natural disaster problems immediately. Relevant region and state administration councils need to make preparedness as monsoon falls. Tatmadaw has formed rescue teams to assist the government in 2016 if natural disasters fall.

Moreover, Tatmadaw prepares to carry out the formation, training and rescue in line with the work plan. Attendees reported on preparations for prevention of natural disasters, mitigation, response, rescue and cooperation, timely completion of construction tasks, allotment of funds, cooperation with the international community and regional countries to seek assistance from international organizations, storage of rice re-serve.

The Vice Senior General stressed that advanced training must be given to State service personnel and preparations must be made for providing emergency aid to affected regions and states.