1 April 2025
A donation ceremony was held today at 12:30 PM at Tabaung Field in Nay Pyi Taw, organized by volunteers and donors to provide financial contributions for relief and reconstruction efforts in earthquake-affected areas. The event was attended by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister, who delivered a speech and received the donated funds.
The donation ceremony was attended by Vice Chairman of the SAC Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, who also serves as Chairman of the National Natural Disaster Management Committee, along with the Council’s Joint Secretary Council members, Union Ministers, Union-level officials, high-ranking military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Nay Pyi Taw Command Commander, Deputy Ministers, volunteer donors, representatives from various ministries, and members of social organizations.
In his opening remarks, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing spoke about the conditions caused by the earthquake, the assistance provided by foreign countries in the form of rescue teams and relief supplies, and expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic donations made at the event.
He noted that, among the 18 major earthquakes recorded in Myanmar’s history, the most severe was the Maymyo Earthquake of May 13, 1912, with a magnitude of 8 on the Richter scale.
The second most severe was the recent earthquake, registering a magnitude of 7.7. He emphasized that Myanmar has experienced repeated earthquakes, offering valuable lessons, and urged the public to remain vigilant and learn from these incidents.
He mentioned that significant damage was observed within the Nay Pyi Taw Council Area following the recent earthquake, prompting him to personally inspect the affected areas within hours of the event.
He observed extensive damage to roads and buildings in the city and, as a result, immediately issued a public statement.
In this statement, he acknowledged that Myanmar alone would require considerable time to carry out rescue and rehabilitation efforts, and thus called for international assistance.
Following his appeal, international rescue teams, including a team from China, along with relief supplies, arrived within a short time frame after the earthquake.
This enabled rapid coordination of rescue operations in the affected areas. He expressed profound gratitude to the international community for their support, including rescue teams and supplies.
Similarly, he noted that the Prime Ministersof India, Malaysia (the current ASEAN Chair), and Pakistan had contacted him by phone to offer assistance, while leaders from China (President Xi Jinping), Cambodia, Brunei, and Nicaragua sent messages of condolence and provided additional aid.
The Senior General further stated that the state has allocated Ks-500 billion to initiate relief efforts.
He highlighted that Myanmar has gained numerous lessons from earthquakes since around 1912 and stressed the need to prioritize such incidents moving forward.
He pointed out that some buildings were constructed without considering potential earthquake risks, leading to preventable deaths, injuries, and losses in the recent disaster.
As of 8:00 AM today, official statistics reported 2,719 deaths, 4,521 injuries, and 441 missing persons due to the earthquake, with rescue operations continuing relentlessly.
During his visits to the affected areas, he observed that the earthquake posed a significant challenge from an engineering perspective, underscoring the need for systematic planning and construction to withstand such disasters. Earlier that morning, he inspected the Maravijaya Buddha Statue and found no tilting, sinking, or cracking in its structure or pedestal, with only minor damage to other religious buildings.
He attributed this resilience to meticulous planning, modern technology, and designs that account for earthquakes, strong winds, and other natural hazards from the outset of construction.
The Senior General outlined the next steps, stating that initial efforts would focus on clearing debris, followed by restoring transportation routes to their pre-earthquake state as quickly as possible.
The third phase would involve removing hazardous, partially collapsed structures, paving the way for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
He emphasized that the government would work tirelessly to rebuild damaged roads, bridges, and state-owned buildings, ensuring a robust recovery process.
Then, at 12:51:02, the Senior General and party, well-wishers, donors and attendees stood in silence with their heads bowed for one minute together with the people from the entire country as the National Mourning Activity.
Afterward, the Senior General said it is necessary to pay compensations for damaged buildings which are insured at some insurance companies and to permit demolitions for them.
The government will help victims as much as possible and fulfill the needs of private construction firms.
I inspected the Hluttaw buildings damaged by the earthquake before attending the meeting and major repairs will have to be carried out as the buildings were severely damaged.
As the country was severely hit by the earthquake, concerted efforts must be made for economic development of the country.
Entrepreneurs are required to cooperate to boost production.
Those who can afford cash are required to help farmers for agricultural development.
Similarly, stability is essential for carrying out rehabilitation tasks. Only when stability has been restored, can more efforts for economic development be made. However, terrorist saboteurs are carrying out sabotage to electricity infrastructures and other sabotage acts.
Armed groups announced that they would stop fighting for two weeks due to the earthquake.
The Tatamdaw never attacked any ethnic armed organization first but it responded when it came under attack.
We have welcomed and opened the door for negotiations with all EAOs to implement peace pragmatically.
To enable people of all national races to enjoy the taste of peace and development, it is necessary to discuss issues honestly and transparently. EAOs are required to genuinely comply with the peace process.
As terrorists have chosen acts of terrorism to solve problems caused by political issues, we will have to respond in accordance with our policies. It was learnt that some EAOs, although they have not launched attacks, are regrouping and training their troops.
As this amounts to offensives, the Tatmadaw will take necessary defense measures.
In short, I would like to express thanks to all well-wishers, donors, ministries and organizations who came here to donate cash and kind for relief and rehabilitation operations with full sympathy towards the victims.
I pray that enterprises can participate in nation-building tasks more extensively.
Then, the Senior General accepted cash donations for relief and rehabilitation operations in earthquake-hit areas from well-wishers and donors and gave certificates of honor to them.
Afterward, well-wishers, donors, ministries and organizations presented cash donations to the Vice-Senior General, SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, SAC Members General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, General Nyo Saw, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, U Wunna Maung Lwin, General Maung Maung Aye, Porel Aung Thein, Manh Nyein Maung, Dr Hmu Htan, Dr Ba Shwe and Khun San Lwin, Chief of General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Kyaw Swa Lin, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Htein Win, and Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Tun Aung, who gave certificates of honour to donors.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and party cordially greeted the well-wishers and donors and hosted a tea reception for them.
To carry out relief and rehabilitation operations for earthquake hit areas, well-wishers donated Ks-104.44 billion in cash and goods worth Ks-12.4 billion, totalling Ks-116.84 billion at today’s ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw.
