Moeen for setting up more cyclone shelters

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A 77-member medical team led by Lt Commander Shawkat of Pakistan Army Corpes arrived in Barisal Airport Friday to offer medical facilities to the SIDR survivors. — Focus Bangla Photo

Army chief General Moeen U Ahmed Friday apparently dismissed some political parties' plea for lifting the state of emergency to make way for their effective participation in on-going relief works, reports UNB.
"Tell me, has it (relief work) any link with politics?" he told reporters after a meeting with US Pacific Commander Admiral Timothy J. Keating at the Army headquarters.
PSO Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury, CGS Maj Gen Sina Ibne Jamali and US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi were present at the meeting.
Gen Moeen said people of all walks of life came forward to serve distressed humanity after the November 15 cyclone saying, "We will be able to reach food to each union and each home."
He suggested establishment of shelters for cattle alongside more cyclone centres as he said cyclone 'Sidr' took the toll of more than 0.5 million cattleheads as officially stated.
He deplored that no new cyclone centre was set up after 1991 although population has increased manifold since then.
Welcoming the US Navy ships that carry helicopters and medical facilities to aid relief operation, the General said US helicopters will airlift food from Dhaka and Chittagong and drop those to Barisal from where food will be reached to the affected areas.
"It will be a great help… There will be no dearth of food in the affected areas," he said, recalling that the Operation Sea Angel had contributed a lot in relief and rehabilitation works after 1991 cyclone.
He said a Joint Forces Headquarters has been set up in Barisal to coordinate relief operations between government, NGOs and other social organisations.
The Army Chief said that most urgent needs at the moment are food, pure water, clothes and powder milk. He said US provided 10 water treatment plants and more will be coming. Besides, army water treatment plants were also pressed into operation.
"Inshallah, we will overcome the crisis soon with cooperation from all," he told reporters.
Later, talking to reporters at Zia International Airport, Admiral Keating expressed sympathy for those who were killed and whose lives have been shattered by the cyclone.
He said they arrived here with the permission of the Bangladesh government to provide assistance for the cyclone victims. They will carry food, provide medical treatment for the injured and supply pure water.
Asked about sensitivity of the US Navy ships' presence, Keating said "I don't think there should be sensitivity. We've remarkable capacity and when requested, we're anxious to provide that assistance. We don't go where we are not wanted."
Asked how long the US ships will stay in Bangladesh, the Admiral said, "As long as it needs."