Special VGF to begin in affected areas Dec 1

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FE Report
The government will launch a special VGF (vulnerable group feeding) programme in the cyclone-hit coastal districts from December 1, 2007.
A total of 2.59 million people in 12 Sidr-affected districts will each receive 15 kilogrammes (kgs) of rice per month until March 2008 under the extensive VGF scheme, Food and Disaster Management Adviser Tapan Chowdhury said Wednesday.
"We will distribute about 150,000 tonnes of foodgrains among 2.59-million VGF cardholders in 790 unions/paurashavas under the cyclone-hit districts," Tapan told a press briefing on the government's post-cyclone relief activities at the Secretariat.
The adviser also said the government will distribute 5000 VGF cards in each union or paurashava of four worst-affected districts namely Barguna, Patuakhali, Bagerhat and Pirojpur.
On the other hand, 2000 such cards will also be distributed in every union/paurashava under the remaining eight cyclone-affected districts - Barisal, Jhalakathi, Bhola, Madaripur, Gopalgonj, Shariatpur, Khulna and Satkhira, he mentioned.
Such VGF scheme will be in addition to the government's other relief and rehabilitation programmes for the Sidr-hit areas, he said.
The food and disaster ministry has already sanctioned 7,492 tonnes of foodgrains for the victims of Thursday's Sidr, which destroyed houses, standing crops, livestock and other assets across the south-western region, he told the newsmen.
"The government has sufficient stock of foodgrains for conducting relief operations," the adviser said, adding that there were 93,000 tonnes of foodgrain in stock in different godowns under the 12 affected districts.
Tapan, however, said the government has been getting assurances for aid and relief assistances from different countries and development agencies.
Two Pakistani aircraft carrying different types of relief materials -- 300 pieces of tents, two tonnes of rice, four tonnes of baby foods, three tonnes of medicines have reached Dhaka, he mentioned.
Besides, Pakistan will also send a 30-bed unit of army mobile-field hospital shortly for the Sidr-hit area, the adviser added.
He also said one or two Indian ships carrying relief goods are expected to arrive today (Thursday).
A good number of countries and development agencies, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Japan, USAID, WFP, DFID, IDB, have already pledged aid and other relief assistances for cyclone victims.
Ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries are visiting the cyclone affected areas, the adviser noted.
He, however, urged the people of all walks of life to help the cyclone-hit people.
Responding to a query on whether or not the prevailing state of emergency was responsible for poor participation of political parries and other social organisations in relief works, he said, "Anybody can take part in the relief activities as the government has already appealed to all for the help."
Meanwhile, the government has started assessing the damage caused by the devastating cyclone Sidr and taking necessary rehabilitation programmes to restore the physical structure and resume economic activities in affected coastal districts.
Simultaneously, it will also prepare a permanent action plan to fight against such catastrophe in future, official sources said.
The severe cyclone hit the country's south and southwestern areas on November 15 last. It killed several thousand people and destroyed crops and property worth millions of dollars.
The sources said the Planning Commission (PC) Tuesday sent letters to the responsible ministries and divisions for adoption of rehabilitation programmes by assessing the damage caused by the Sidr and long-term action plans so that the government could take necessary steps to fight against such kind of cyclone in future.
"We have already sent separate letters to 17 ministries and divisions for preparing their assessment reports, necessary rehabilitation programmes and actions plans in two weeks' time," a PC official told the FE Wednesday.