Pre-Strong Wind Reinforcement:Launch of pre-strong wind reinforcement project held

Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Dr. Soe Win, accompanied by Deputy Minister Dr. Than Soe and Nay Pyi Daw Council Member U Zeya Lin, attended and delivered the opening address at the opening ceremony of the "Pre-Strong Wind Disaster Preparedness Reinforcement Project" held on February 23rd at the Aye Chan Thar Model Village in Tatkone Township.

In his address, the Union Minister noted that Myanmar typically experiences strong winds during the pre-summer, pre-monsoon, and monsoon seasons annually, causing roofs to be torn off, tilting, and collapse of residential buildings across the country. He stated that over the nine-year period from the 2016-2017 fiscal year to the 2024-2025 fiscal year, more than 200,000 houses were damaged by strong winds. To reduce such annual damages, the Ministry has been conducting awareness campaigns on house reinforcement and retrofitting as a pilot program since the 2016-2017 fiscal year in regions and states frequently affected by strong winds. He explained that today's ceremony marks the launch of the reinforcement and retrofitting project for 2026, which will be implemented nationwide during the pre-summer season across nine regions and states. He continued speaking along these lines.

Following his speech, the Union Minister and party observed and provided necessary supplementary guidance via an online link, viewing the ongoing activities including practical house reinforcement and retrofitting in Kalwin Village Tract, Kalwin Ywar Ma Ward, Myeik Township, Tanintharyi Region, in Magyi Daw Village, Hinthada Township, Ayeyarwady Region, awareness raising and distribution of pamphlets on pre-strong wind disaster preparedness in Pyi Taw Thar South Ward, Meiktila Township, Mandalay Region and conducting a pre-strong wind disaster preparedness awareness talk in Ward (18), Hlaingthaya Township, Yangon Region.

Following the online observations, a community leader from Aye Chan Thar Model Village expressed gratitude for the reinforcement efforts for pre-strong wind disaster preparedness. Afterwards, the Union Minister, Deputy Minister, and Nay Pyi Daw Council Member distributed hygiene products to the public. The Union Minister and party then toured and observed the ongoing house reinforcement and retrofitting activities in Aye Chan Thar Model Village, Tatkone Township, it’s reported.