8 April
COUNTRIES, including Myanmar, that are already struggling – with poverty, conflict, and natural disasters – are now being struck by COVID-19.
Governments, medics, and aid groups are scrambling to prepare, but face daunting challenges.
Those industries and businesses which most of our workers rely upon, including daily-wage workers, are being impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic. The economic consequences of this crisis are colossal and immensely painful, bringing job losses and disruptions at a time that requires government intervention.
During the coming New Year holidays, low-income families living in cities will definitely struggle to feed their families.
As the government elected by the people, the Union Government announced a new programme yesterday to provide basic food to low-income families, free of charge, in an effort to feed people who must work every day to bring food to the table.
Also, under the same programme, people will enjoy 150 units of free electricity this month.
The programme for distributing the five basic foods: rice, cooking oil, salt, beans and onions, will be launched on 10 April, the first day of the New Year holidays.
To make this programme a success, all people are advised to cooperate with the regional authorities and volunteers to ensure that there would be no waste, no unnecessary delays or corruption in the programme. When many people need our help, nobody should be acting exclusively based upon their own interests, not only in this programme, but also during the entire period of this crisis.
In this time of crisis, we are heartened by evidence of national and local solidarity with people helping each other, working together to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to provide food and facilities to those people who have been quarantined.
We respect our people, as they are sharing the burden and risks when the country needs them.
Whenever a challenge happens, it depends upon us to determine how to turn challenges into opportunities.
Today is the time for us to show our compassion, loving-kindness and unity. For our unity is our strength.
We would also like to call upon business persons and private donors to contribute to the Central Committee for Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 Disease, because a strong community response is critical to reduce the impact of this crisis.
It is crucial to support each other and the most vulnerable. This is how we will survive today and thrive tomorrow.
GNLM
