Emergency meeting on natural disaster management held to carry out relief, rehabilitation tasks in cyclone-hit areas under leadership of Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
NAY PYI TAW May 15
Severe Cyclonic Storm Mocha moved inland to the northnortheast of Matupi and weakened into cyclonic storm Mocha and continue to make its way to the north northeast of Katha in upper Sagaing Region, according to weather forecast issued by the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology at 7 am today.
An emergency meeting on natural disaster management to carry out emergency management, response, rescue operations, cooperation and preparations and rehabilitation in towns and villages that have been hit by the cyclone and those along the cyclone trail was held under the leadership of Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the meeting hall of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services this morning.
Also present at the meeting were Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo of the SAC, union ministers U Aung Naing Oo, Dr Kan Zaw and U Maung Maung Ohn, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Tun Aung, senior officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, the commander of the Yangon Command and responsible officials.
First, Quartermaster General Lt-Gen Kyaw Swa Lin reported to the Senior General on the needs for zinc coated corrugated roofing sheets and electricity,relief efforts being carried out by relief teams from fleets of vehicles formed for emergency relief in cyclone hit areas and further preparations to send more relief teams while Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung reported to the Senior General on the situation of the storm and rainfalls, damage and destructions caused by the cyclone in Rakhine State, measures taken to prevent disruption of transport and communication in towns and villages along the cyclone trail under the guidance of the Senior General, evacuation of residents in cyclone hit towns and villages, preparations for other needs by the Tatmadaw and departmental personnel in cooperation with the people and being able to overcome the storm at minimum casualties.
After hearing the reports, the Senior General said it is necessary for to transport corruga ing corps must be sent to restore power lines as quickly as possible. Similarly, foodstuffs and consumer products must be transported to the affected areas and must be stored in temporary tents to prevent damage.
Measures must be taken to enable well wishers to donate relief items, which must be sent to affected areas as soon as possible.
Then, union ministers, the chief minister of Yangon Region, senior officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services and the commander of Yangon Command reported to the Senior General on measures taken to transport reserve rice stored in respective regions to cyclone hit areas as soon as possible, preparations to transport relief items by aircraft and helicopters of the Tatmadaw in real time, arrangements to transport foodstuffs including instant noodles and drinking water, consumer products, corrugated zinc roofing sheets and roofing nails and construction materials quickly, restoration of communication lines in storm hit areas, deployment and plans for further deployment of defence services medical personnel to provide health care services in cyclone hit areas, damage to some ancient pagodas in Bagan ancient cultural zone, the need to provide clean water to prevent the possible outbreak of diarrhea and efforts for publications of storm related news and warnings and damage in real time.
After hearing the reports, the Senior General made concluding remarks, saying the storm has been overcome at the minimum loss of lives due to broad-casting storm warnings in real time. It is necessary to send rescue teams formed for rescue and rehabilitation of cyclone hit areas and transport foodstuffs, drinking water, consumer products and construction materials as early as possible. Urgent efforts must be made to restore communication disrupted in storm hit areas. Responsible officials are required to publish news about further developments of the storm in real time and to do maintenance tasks for damaged pagodas in Bagan ancient cultural zone.