Thursday, 03 June 2010 23:16 Kyaw Kha
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - Mr. Erik Solheim, Norwegian Minister for Development and Environment, paid a visit to Cyclone Nargis affected areas on Monday
A Norwegian delegation arrived in Burma on May 31 on a three-day visit. The delegation visited Cyclone Nargis affected areas and then went to Naypyidaw, the country’s new jungle capital and met Foreign Minister Nyan Win and the Social Welfare and Relief and Resettlement Minister Maung Maung Swe.
Mr. Solheim surveyed the cyclone devastated area from the aircraft and visited three villages in Kunchankone and Kyeik Lat Township, a delegation member said.
“Norway is aware of the suffering that you all have experienced. We cannot bring back the dead, but we can do our best to support the living and move towards full recovery for the many people affected by the cyclone,” Mr. Solheim told villagers, according to a statement by the United Nations representative office.
Cyclone Nargis devastated the Irrawaddy Delta and southern Rangoon division and killed at least 140,000 people and severely affected 2.4 million.
Before Cyclone Nargis, 15.8 per cent of fishermen in Kunchankone Township had their own fishing equipment, but after the killer cyclone just 2.7 per cent have been left with such equipment, according to a Press release of the Tripartite Core Group, set up to provide humanitarian aid to Nargis victims.
Although the devastated region needed US$ 691 million for buildings, business ventures, education, health-care systems, among other needs during the period 2009-2011, it has received just US $ 180 million, according to sources.
Friday, June 4, 2010
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