Latest news with #SoeWin
Hans India
02-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
653 survivors saved by rescuers in Myanmar earthquake
Yangon: A total of 653 survivors have been rescued by emergency teams following Myanmar's 7.7-magnitude earthquake, the state-owned daily Myanma Alinn reported on Friday. Both local and international rescue teams carried out search and rescue operations. They were also able to retrieve 779 bodies as of Thursday, the report added. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. As of May 1, the disaster has claimed 3,835 lives and injured 5,105 people, with 105 others still unaccounted for, Xinhua news agency reported. Myanmar has experienced a total of 157 aftershocks following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28. The aftershocks ranged from magnitude 2.8 to 7.5, the department said. More than 200,000 people have been displaced after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, according to the country's National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC). At the committee's third meeting of the year, held on Friday in Nay Pyi Taw, NDMC Chairman Vice Senior General Soe Win said the earthquake caused widespread destruction across 10 regions and states, including Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago, Magway, and Shan. The earthquake destroyed or damaged over 63,000 homes, 6,700 schools, 5,400 monasteries, 5,300 pagodas, and hundreds of other religious buildings, hospitals, bridges, roads, and dams, he said. International medical teams, including 337 foreign personnel, have set up temporary hospitals in the worst-affected areas and are providing care alongside local health workers. Following a request for international assistance by the Myanmar government, 2,095 rescue workers from 26 countries and regions have arrived in Myanmar, bringing over 3,800 tonnes of relief supplies using 147 planes, seven ships, and 23 vehicles, he added. Authorities are inspecting damaged buildings using a colour-coded system -- blue, orange, and red -- to assess structural damage and guide repairs. Temporary housing, including bashas and modular shelters, is being built for displaced staff and residents, while plans are underway to reconstruct homes using earthquake-resistant designs based on soil testing and fault-line assessments. Under 'Operation Brahma', India was the first responder to the earthquake-hit Myanmar and has provided relief supplies of over 750 MT including essential medicines, food grain, ready-to-eat meals, tents, blankets, gensets, rapidly deployable surgical and medical shelters, water sanitation and hygiene services, drinking water, essential clothing, prefabricated office/residential structures, etc.
The Star
27-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Construction and repair of earthquake-damaged buildings in Myanmar must begin only after proper soil testing: Vice-Senior General Soe Win
NAY PYI TAW: The National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC) convened a meeting yesterday at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement in Nay Pyi Taw to assess ongoing earthquake response efforts and lay out plans for reconstruction. The meeting was chaired by Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Chairman of the NDMC, Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council, and Deputy Prime Minister. In his address, he reaffirmed the government's commitment to effective and resilient rebuilding in affected regions. Vice-Senior General Soe Win emphasised that construction and repair of earthquake-damaged buildings must begin only after proper soil testing is conducted. Soil conditions are to be reviewed in coordination with technical experts to ensure the safety and sustainability of new buildings. Particular attention will be given to avoiding construction on or near known earthquake fault lines. He reiterated that all new structures should be capable of withstanding earthquakes of up to magnitude 8 on the Richter scale. Existing buildings must be assessed for structural integrity and reinforced as necessary to meet the same standard. The government has ordered immediate relief operations in affected areas, the swift distribution of international assistance and the collection of data on the needs of affected populations and public employees. Authorities are also tasked with drafting both short-term and long-term plans to repair roads, bridges, and restore transportation links disrupted by the earthquake. Temporary housing is to be provided for displaced government staff while permanent housing is developed. The NDMC confirmed that its operations are being carried out in accordance with the Disaster Management Law and established rules. The committee detailed its multi-level approach to assessment, search, and rescue operations. Initial assessments focus on evaluating conditions and risks across the affected regions. Based on this information, search and rescue efforts are organised and executed, prioritising evacuation of those in distress and rescuing individuals trapped in collapsed buildings. Vice Senior-General Soe Win stated that modern technology is being used across disaster sites to ensure no survivors are overlooked. Manual debris removal, supported by machinery, has been completed in Nay Pyi Taw, Bago Region, and Sagaing Region, while similar operations are still in progress in Mandalay Region. As of April 25, the earthquake has claimed 3,763 lives, left 5,107 people injured, and 110 still missing. In the immediate aftermath, the Prime Minister appealed for international assistance, prompting rapid deployment of global relief teams. The International Medical Corps has established temporary hospitals and clinics in Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, and the Nay Pyi Taw Council area, offering emergency treatment and healthcare services. A total of 337 medical personnel from six countries are working alongside Ministry of Health staff in the affected regions. On April 19, the Head of State visited heavily affected areas in Sagaing and Mandalay Regions, offering support to communities and inspecting reconstruction efforts. He instructed local authorities to expedite the restoration of damaged religious and heritage sites, including pagodas and temples, and to provide financial aid to select private high-rise building owners. The Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring timely recovery and the effective use of resources to help affected communities rebuild. Initial assessments as of April 24 reveal widespread damage across 10 regions and states, including Nay Pyi Taw Council. The destruction includes 63,854 houses, 6,752 schools, 5,474 monasteries and nunneries, 5,342 pagodas, 613 other religious structures, 576 hospitals and clinics, 56 railways, 271 roads, 188 expressways, 586 dams and embankments, 172 bridges, and 353 electrical transformers. Authorities have categorised the damage into short-term, medium-term, and long-term priorities. The Deputy Prime Minister stated that the recovery strategy will require phased implementation and sustained coordination for long-term rebuilding efforts. The March 28 earthquake impacted 128,965 households and 629,206 individuals across the affected areas. According to a Disaster Management Center (DMC) report on April 23, 48,656 people were relocated to 135 relief camps, while 159,239 people relocated independently. An estimated 421,311 people remain in their homes despite the damage. Government inspection teams have assessed damage to staff housing using a three-colour classification system - blue, orange and red - recognised internationally. Buildings marked orange and red are undergoing further inspection with specialised equipment. Affected families have either been relocated through ministry-organised plans or their own arrangements. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised the need to ensure timely provision of temporary shelters for those still in need. To address this, DMC has begun constructing temporary shelters and modular housing units for displaced families. As of April 23, a total of 155 aftershocks had been recorded, mostly below magnitude 4, with only one above magnitude 5. No further aftershocks have been reported since April 23. In an effort to prevent misinformation, authorities have arrested an individual who spread false information about the earthquake on social media, creating unnecessary panic among the public. Ministry of Construction explained that before the earthquake, nine cement factories across the country produced a combined total of 30,700 tonnes, or 614,000 bags, of cement per day. However, post-earthquake disruptions reduced output, with only six factories currently producing 17,100 tonnes, or 342,000 bags, daily. Efforts are now underway to boost production. By May 15, daily output is expected to reach 22,100 tonness, equivalent to 442,000 bags. Further expansion is planned for September, with production projected to rise to 32,100 tonnes, or 642,000 bags, per day. To support rebuilding efforts in disaster-affected areas, the government has set the price of one bag of cement at 17,000 kyats. Detailed calculations have been made to determine the daily production capacity of each factory, ensuring efficient distribution of available supplies. Priority distribution is being given to the Sagaing Region, which suffered some of the most severe damage in the earthquake. Cement from currently operational factories is being sent to assist reconstruction efforts there. Vice-Senior General Soe Win stressed the importance of coordination between the Cement Distribution Committee and the National Disaster Management Authority to ensure timely and effective delivery of materials to affected areas. In addition, the Ministry of Energy needs to submit in advance the distribution plan for the 50,000 tonnes of fuel (gasoline and diesel) that will arrive from China soon. The Transport and Communications Committee and the Donation Receiving and Distribution Committee need to coordinate the transportation of container modulars and other supplies that will arrive by sea from Yangon to Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay, he added. - Eleven Media/ANN
The National
08-04-2025
- General
- The National
Why humanitarianism means more in a fractured world
It is often said that it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. In the case of Myanmar, where a 7.7-magnitude earthquake more than a week ago took the lives of over 3,400 people, the darkness of such death and destruction is profound indeed. However, the humanitarian response to the crisis should inspire hope – a vitally important quality given our increasingly fractious world. The UAE is among the leading nations that have stepped up to the challenge of helping the people of Myanmar. Almost 120 specialists from the Emirates have been deployed to help find survivors and are currently looking at ways to distribute food, medicine and shelter to thousands more in need. Such efforts have not gone unnoticed; on Sunday, the Myanmar government honoured the UAE task force in a ceremony hosted by Dr Soe Win, the country's minister of social welfare. An integral part of the Emirates' approach to international humanitarianism has been to lead by example. As well as being one of the world's top aid donors – from 2020 to 2022, the country's foreign aid disbursements totalled more than $9 billion – it has regularly sent personnel into difficult and dangerous disaster zones. In 2023, for example, more than 130 UAE specialists raced against time to find survivors in the rubble of the Syria and Turkey earthquakes. The country has also been at the forefront of the humanitarian response to the war in Gaza. As well as delivering more than 55,000 tonnes of aid by air, sea and land, Emirati medics have risked their safety to volunteer in Rafah field hospital, set up as part of the UAE's Gallant Knight 3 operation. Rescue personnel and organisations from the Emirates also have decades of practical experience to share. In 2004, the UAE sent a task force to Indonesia as the country reeled from the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Fast-forward to today and the Emirates is firmly established as a hub for global humanitarian work. Beginning today, its National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority – already a significant repository of skills and expertise – will host a two-day World Crisis and Emergency Management Summit in Abu Dhabi, encouraging knowledge-sharing and the building of ties between countries and organisations. A robust and organised response to challenges such as that posed by the Myanmar earthquake must be long-term in nature. Long after the victims have been accounted for, Myanmar will face a struggle to contain the spread of disease, repair infrastructure and restore livelihoods. Given that the country is still in the grip of a deadly and many-sided conflict, it is crucial that its problems are not allowed to slip the world's attention. The sheer scale of such a disaster reinforces the reality that the UAE's commitment to extending a helping hand is about more than moral leadership. At a time of increasing international division, where old alliances are under strain and humanitarian principles are too often violated, examples of goodwill – such as helping counties in dire straits – shows that co-operation is not only still possible, it is necessary.
