Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye, together with his Deputy Minister U Soe Aung, met with the members of Natural Disaster Management Committee at the office of Shan State’s Deputy Head Office of General Administration Department in Lashio yesterday morning. 

The Union Minister explained the plans to comfort and provide humanitarian assistance to the locals who fled from the local armed conflicts, and sought the ideas to supply their needs.

The attendees then elaborated the tasks undertaken on the consequences of conflicts broke out from 15 to 18 August and the works of district disaster management committee. They also requested for the readiness of more rescue items, construction of multi-purpose resistant buildings and the formation of a specific disaster management committee for the northern Shan State. The Union Minster and officials attended to the discussions.

Dr Win Myat Aye and party visited Mansu Shan Buddhist Monastery and donated offertories to the leading monk of monastery before receiving advice from Sayadaw Dr Bhandata Punnya Nanda and comforting the IDPs at the monastery.

The Union Minister and party then provided the local displaced people with 65 rice bags, 268 boxes of canned fish, 67 viss of cooking oil, nutritious snacks and toys for the children and 322 blankets for 322 orphans. 

The Union Minister also joined the distribution of foodstuff for the IDPs donated by local well-wishers, civil societies and the Kanbawza Foundation. 

Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye and party then visited Lashio People’s Hospital and comforted the injured persons in the armed conflicts.

The Union Minister and party later proceeded to the drug rehab center in Lashio and met with the trainees who have successfully given up narcotic drugs to encourage them.

In the afternoon, the Union Minister and party held talks with the members of Youth Affairs Committee for the northern Shan State about education, the risks of narcotic drugs, healthcare services, job opportunities, business sector, establishment of youth center, separate funds for the eastern, southern and northern areas of Shan State and the assistance of government ministries in dealing with the state departments.

Dr Win Myat Aye and party also presented condolence money at the Shweli Hall of Northeastern Command for 14 victims of Tatmadaw personnel, Myanmar Police Force and civilians who died in Nawnghkio and Gote Twin incidents. The total amount of K 7 million (K0.5 million each for 14 victims) was handed over to the officials concerned.—MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)