Myanmar adopted plans to address nine natural disasters under the categories of urban fire, forest fire, flood, earthquake, storms, tsunami, drought, landslide and frost, following the 2008 Cyclone Nargis.
But, today, we need to review our yearly plans, in accordance with the changing types of natural disasters and modern technologies.
If we do not make adequate preparations for the coming monsoon season, which will enter amidst the global outbreak of COVID-19 disease, we could face life-threatening consequences.
In particular, the coming of the monsoon rains risks worsening the situation of those people sheltering in the displaced camps in our country.
The first rain of 2020 is expected to fall at the end of April and early May, because a low-pressure area forming in the Bay of Bengal would be intensified into stronger cyclonic winds between April 30 and May 3, according to the India Meteorological Department.
Our preparations and preparedness for storms during the period of the COVID-19 crisis must take into account the quarantine facilities, along with aid for Stay-At-Home programmes, prevention and containment measures against the COVID-19 disease at internally displaced camps, and more.
We must continue to diligently make preparations for these possible situations, which are predictable.
While cyclone and monsoon preparedness activities are being carried out, it is vital to prioritize public health-related preparations complying with the COVID-19 guidelines in the IDP camps.
To ensure that COVID-19 does not take hold and spread rapidly at the IDP camps, Stay-At-Home rules, facilities for quarantine and providing regional hospitals with medicines and special equipment are vital.
We would like to urge civil societies, local NGOs and UN agencies to stand in solidarity with the people in IDP camps to address the risks of coronavirus in the camps.
It is clear that all of us can only be safe if we ensure that everyone is kept safe, because COVID-19 disease does not discriminate.
Working together, we will ensure that refugees have safe and sanitary living conditions during an additional, potential public health emergency.
We must make every effort to ensure that the coming monsoon season does not exacerbate the current spreading of the COVID-19 virus throughout the country.
GNLM
