During a teleconference call with the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) this Tuesday (June 16), government officials said they would provide more personal protective equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 prevention.
Teleconference call Restoration Council of Shan StateShan State Army RCSSSSA and Government representatives June 16
Lt-Col Sao Oum Khur told SHAN they discussed about the prevention of the novel coronavirus and dealing with outbreaks, and the government committed to donating PPEs for a second time. They also discussed handling returning migrant workers, contact tracing, international assistance and the peace process.
“I don’t know when they’re going to give COVID-19 personal preventive equipment again, but they promised to provide assistance,” Sao Oum Khur says.
The government gave the Shan EAO a package of PPEs on May 26.
Maj Bawng Khur, Col Sai Nguen, Lt-Col Sai Harn, Maj Seing Sheng Mai, Sai Leng and Sai Sai Nguen of RCSS/SSA attended the online conference. Government representatives included Dr Tin Myo Win, Thein Zaw, Khin Zaw Oo (a retired lieutenant general) and Deputy Minister Hla Maw Oo.
The Eastern Military Command of the Burma Army provided RCSS/SSA personal preventive equipment on June 4 and the Shan State Civilian Food Supporting Committee donated food rations on June 8.
Since the pandemic began, RCSS/SSA says its medics have done medical checks on 64,000 citizens, while providing information on coronavirus prevention.
RCSS/SSA medics were blocked by police and the village headman this Thursday (June 18) during the EAO’s COVID-19 prevention program in Mongnai Township, located in southern Shan State. The medics were threatened and told they had to leave immediately because they didn’t get permission to be in the area.
The RCSS is a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
