The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Japan Red Cross Society (JRCS) will join the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) to build 54 elementary schools in five cyclone-hit regions at the end of this year, the local weekly Myanmar Post reported.

They will build the schools in Bogalay, Phyapon Kyait Latt, Dedaye and Laputta in southwestern Ayeyawaddy delta Yangon division respectively which were torn by the cyclone, the report said.

The project will soon be implemented right after the monsoon season which usually lasts from June to September, it said.

Meanwhile, the other four Red Cross from Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand will also help rebuild infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and healthcare centers in the cyclone-hit divisions, earlier report said.

The rehabilitation projects in the areas of Bogalay, Phyapon, Mawgyun and Laputta are planned to be completed by the end of next year.

The rebuilt infrastructure will be used as cyclone shelters in case of natural disaster in the future.

In May last year, deadly cyclone Nargis hit five divisions and states -- Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin. The storm killed 84,537 people and left 53,836 missing and 19,359 injured, according to official death toll.

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2009)