Head of State Attends Ceremony to Present Donations for Flood-Affected Areas

【Article Meta】 Country: Myanmar Media: Eleven Media 【Content】 ■ Over 23.324 Billion Kyats in Donations Received Head of State U Min Aung Hlaing attended a ceremony held at the City Hall in Pathein on the afternoon of August 8, where donations were presented for relief and rehabilitation activities in flood-affected areas of Le Myo Na Township, Hinthada District, Ayeyarwady Region. He received the donations, according to reports. The ceremony was attended by Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Union Ministers U Khin Maung Yi, U Myo Thant, Dr. Thet Khaing Win, U Min Naung, U Myo Thant, Dr. Soe Win, Chief Minister of Ayeyarwady Region U Aye Kyaw, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services, the Commander of the South-West Command, deputy ministers and responsible officials, responsible officials from the regional government, philanthropists, responsible officials from regional-level departments, social organizations, and community elders. In his address, the Head of State stated that the ceremony held today is a blessed occasion where philanthropists are donating funds and goods to the people facing flood disaster due to heavy rainfall in Le Myo Na Township, Hinthada District, Ayeyarwady Region. He explained that on the night of July 30, 2026, heavy rainfall caused a breach in the sandbar of the Ngwanta River in Le Myo Na Township, leading to water flowing through and overtopping the low-lying embankment. This resulted in over 9,000 households, comprising more than 39,000 people, from five wards in Le Myo Na town and 138 villages being affected by the flood, with 17 relief camps established. Since the breach occurred on July 31, the Ayeyarwady Region government, relevant Union ministries, local residents, and volunteer workers have been collectively working diligently on tasks such as installing beams, constructing bamboo walls, placing geobags, using crane boats to deposit sandbags upstream of the water inflow, filling and dumping sandbags using steel CB wagons to control and prevent water inflow, and blocking the water inflow by placing sandbags on both sides of the weir. In the coming days, three motorboats with wooden and steel hulls will be filled with sand and sunk to block the water flow, and large sandbags will be further piled on top of the submerged boats. Plans are in place to maintain the weir during the rainy season when river water levels are high, and solid embankment work will need to be carried out when the dry season arrives. To enhance its strength, the process of driving steel sheet piles, 12 meters in length, for approximately 890 feet in an arched shape at the location where the weir is currently being overtopped, has commenced, the Head of State stated. The national government is promptly inspecting flood-affected areas and carrying out relief operations in a timely manner. The Ayeyarwady Region government has also been actively engaged in searching and rescuing victims, relocating them to safe areas, providing food supplies, offering healthcare, and preventing riverbank erosion and collapse since the onset of the flood. The Head of State expressed heartfelt gratitude for the cooperation with all philanthropists, donors, organizations, and individuals who have enthusiastically provided support and donations not only for the flood response efforts but also for the rehabilitation and reconstruction activities. He conveyed thanks on behalf of the nation and the flood-affected citizens and respectfully recorded the donations. Subsequently, donations were presented by families of the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy, Air Force), regions and states, philanthropists, and organizations for relief and rehabilitation activities in the flood-affected areas of Le Myo Na Township. The Head of State received these donations and presented certificates of honor in return, according to reports. Following this, philanthropists, donors, and organizations continued to present donations, which were received by Union Ministers U Khin Maung Yi, U Myo Thant, Dr. Thet Khaing Win, U Min Naung, U Myo Thant, and Dr. Soe Win. They presented certificates of honor in return, and a total of over 23.324 billion Kyats in donations were received, according to reports.