MYANMARI.

Natural hazards in Myanmar

1.1 Natural hazards likely to affect the country
Annually Myanmar has to suffer from impacts of disaster: fire, storm,flood, and earthquake. 70% of disasters are caused by fire, 13% by storm,
10% by flood and the remaining 7% by other causes of disaster.
1.2 Recent major disasters
year
2005
2004
2004

dis_subset killed injured
total_affected dam (US ‘000s)―
Landslide171616―
Tsunami71
012500Cyclone236025000688

Source: "EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database,www.em-dat.net - Université catholique de Louvain - Brussels Belgium"
II.

Disaster Management system

2.1 Administrative system

Conventional long form:
Conventional short form:
Government type:
Capital:Administrative divisions:

Myanmar
Myanmarmilitary junta
Yangon
7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne).

2.2 Legal system, legal framework
2.3 Structure of disaster management
Myanmar has its own system and practice for disaster prevention andpreparedness base on its own social, economical, cultural andadministrative practice. In order to carry out disaster preventive
measure effectively, the central committee for natural Disaster
Prevention, Relief and Resettlement has been formed by the guideline ofState Peace and Development Council’s Security and Management
Committee. The chairman of the committee is Minister for Social
Welfare Relief and Resettlement and members are head of Departments
concerned State, Divisional and Township level committees are alsoorganized and disaster prevention activities are being implemented.

Source: ADRC country reportIn order to effectively carry-out disaster preparedness and prevention
measures the Government established a Central Committee for Disaster
Prevention and Relief, a policy formulating body headed by the Ministerof Home and Religious Affairs. A National Disaster Prevention Reliefand Rehabilitation Committee was formed under the Central Committee,
so as to facilitate the practical implementation of the preparedness andpreventive measures, and the National Committee was headed by theDeputy Minister of the Ministry of Social Welfare with 9 members fromother Ministries.
Fire Services Department under Ministry of Social Welfare Relief andResettlement is responsible for fire precaution, fire prevention,extinction, training of fireman, relief and rescue work, educating thepublic for awareness of fire and disasters
In the delta regions where flooding of the river is the problem, the dykes
and water barriers are maintained and reinforced as necessary byIrrigation Department. In area of Rakhine state which are vulnerable tocyclone and storm surge earthen mounds are constructed.
In case of disaster, readily and Development Association, Schools, Army,Reserved Volunteers, Myanmar National Committee for Women’s Affairs
and Police Force.
2.4 Priority on disaster risk management
III.

Disaster management plan

Disaster Reduction Plan
Department of relief and resettlement have cooperated with theDepartment of Health, Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, Fire
Services Department, Human Settlement and Household Development
Department, Irrigation Department and Myanmar Red Cross society inthe field of disaster prevention and reduction measure.
Fire prevention: The State Peace and Development Council is theauthority concerned to manage a systematic resettlement of homeless
who trespassed in restricted areas to new towns. On the other hand, theauthority made town plans at the fire stricken areas as post disasteractivities. The victims were provided rehabilitation plans, resettlementand development schemes. Reducing vulnerabilities by doing physicalplan and construction, disaster mitigation will be achieved for the future.

Source: ADRC country reportSome of the examples are Meiktila Fire (1991) and Myangyan Fire(1993). As the main causes of fire outbreak are due to unplanneddevelopment and use of flammable construction materials, theauthorities have undertaken the task of physical planning to prevent
potential disaster and have also established low cost building materials
development unit to develop non-flammable building materials withindigenous raw materials. Systematic establishing of new towns on
accordance with town plan is another activity to reduce Fire disaster.
Cyclonic storm and flood preparedness: Having a long coastal line along
the western part of the country, Bay of Bay of Bengal is regarded as
cyclone vulnerable area. Being a heavy rainfall country, Myanmar
suffers from flood disaster in mid-monsoon period of August to October.
Along-term prevention and preparedness plan for cyclone and storm
surge, (8) earthen high-mounds (embankments) which consists of refuge
shelters and drinking water ponds were constructed in Pauk-taw,
Myebon and Minya Township in Rakhine state, cyclone prone areas.
During the cyclone season (April, May, September, October), Local
populace can take refuge in these high mounds and shelters in case ofemergency to avoid from storm surge, and strong wind. Department ofMeteorology and Hydrology, is responsible for improving cyclone andflood warning and forecasting system. Hence, broad disseminating ofwarning are being made through the mass media such as television,
radio, wireless, and newspaper.
IV.

Budget size on national level

V.

Progress and situations of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)

VI.

Projects on disaster reduction headed by Ministry

VII.

ADRC Counterpart
General Director of Relief and Resettlement Dept
Office of the Minister

Source: ADRC country report