Demonstrating concerted efforts in flood rescue and rehabilitation

Overflow of the Ngawun River triggered by heavy rains, caus­ing erosion at the embankment in the last week of August, flooded many areas of Laymyethna, Ngathainggyoung, Hinthada, Kyonpyaw and Kyaunggon townships in Ayeyawady Region, resulting in a large number of flood victims.

 

The erosion affected landslides and inundation in nearby villages of the aforesaid townships. As soon as floods happened, the Head of State, Union ministers, local authorities and voluntary associations arrived at the scenes to provide relief supplies for the victims in order to reduce their difficulties during the long-day heavy rains in the bad weather.

 

Especially, nobody can deny that military personnel under the control of the South-West Command, members of the Myanmar Police Force, fire­fighters, social welfare groups and charitable associations, together with residents, have consistently made every effort to rescue and rehabilitate flood victims. They showed their philanthropic efforts for the victims to be able to overcome challenges from flooding. Peo­ple from nearby regions sent food packages, purified water, and other necessities to the flood victims.

 

The embankment of the Ngawun River was filled with sandbags and geobags in order to make it stronger. Donors across the nation and different types of associations empha­sized their donations to rebuild the embankment and to fulfil the requirements of flood vic­tims. Their great endeavours could be shown in placing a cargo barge (CB) behind the sheet piles to block the Ngawun waterway as a main operation. The cargo barge could successfully block the 70-feet-long and 40 feet deep channel, where the current was very strong, and water continued to flow in. In fact, it was a great success of humans over the strong flow of water.

 

Gradually, residents could see some hours of fine weather. The water from flooded areas is ebbing day by day. At that time, local authorities and departmental personnel are so busy reinforc­ing low-lying areas vulnerable to flooding, providing emergency healthcare services to the victims and taking preventive measures against communicable diseases. They emphasize comprehenaive rehabilitation efforts for the people, including reopening basic education schools and providing food supplies.

 

Mostly during the monsoon season each year, natural disasters such as heavy rains, strong winds and floods often pose a threat to human beings and their living environment, causing destruction. However, the final results can show the great victory of humans over natural disasters. In the incidents of flooding in the Ayeyawady Re­gion, the people of Myanmar have proved their united and concerted efforts in taking preventive measures against natural disasters.