A ceremony was held yesterday afternoon at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement meeting hall where Bangladesh donated US$530,000 to construct storm shelters in Rakhine State. Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye accepted the donation and presented a document of honour to the Bangladesh ambassador to Myanmar.
In his speech of appreciation, the Union Minister said Myanmar is a country where storm shelters and life-saving high grounds are a necessity.
After Cyclone Nargis in 2008, 93 storm shelters were built in Rakhine State and 25 were under construction while an additional 30 were in the pipeline, of which 4 will be built by the donation from Bangladesh.
Through this donation, not only will storm shelters be built, but mutual understanding will increase, said the Union Minister.
Afterward, the Union Minister met with a UNICEF delegation led by Child Protection Chief Mr. Aaron Greenberg in the ministry’s Maykhalar hall. During the meeting, children’s rights, adoption, exploitation of children and the status of amending the orphanage covenant were discussed.