By Xinhua,
Yangon : Myanmar is reclaiming land in cyclone-hit areas to build up to 100,000 low-cost houses for those rendered homeless in last month’s Cyclone Nargis, weekly news magazine Voice reported Saturday.
The houses at 500,000 Kyats ($450) each will be constructed free of charge by government designated private companies for the villagers in Laputta, Bogalay, Dedaye and Phyapon areas in the Irrawaddy Delta, the report said.
A total of 30 private companies have been assigned by the National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee to undertake reconstruction work in 17 disaster-affected areas.
The project covers 14,000 houses and 88 schools in villages in Bogalay by the Htoo company.
The Japan Platform Foundation will also help to build 2,500 to 3, 000 houses for Myanmar cyclone victims in Yangon and Irrawaddy divisions.
Myanmar has announced that the first phase of the country’s post-disaster restoration work – rescue and relief – has been partially finished and it has now entered the second phase of resettlement and reconstruction.
The deadly tropical cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states – Irrawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin – May 2 and 3. Irrawaddy and Yangon bore the brunt of the disaster.
The economic loss in the devastating cyclone has been officially estimated at $10.67 billion.
The storm has killed 77,738 people with 55,917 missing and 19,359 injured according to official estimate.