Gen Moeen calls for relief coordination
Monday, 26 November 2007
Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed called for coordination in relief operations Sunday, as many survivors still remain without adequate aid even nine days after the cyclone 'Sidr' ravaged the country's south region, reports bdnews24.com.
Despite intensified relief operations by the government and the local and foreign groups, thousands of survivors, in search of relief, were crowding at river-banks and roadsides, witnesses said.
"Please coordinate with us, so that we can dispatch your relief goods to the survivors who need it most," General Moeen urged the local donors.
Cyclone 'Sidr', which hit on Nov 15, killed more than 3,000 people, left thousands missing or injured, and displaced some two million.
Meanwhile, the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge was in Bangladeshi waters to assist the authorities, while another ship, the USS Essex, was due to arrive here soon, the US embassy officials said.
Each ship carries about 20 helicopters, which will help in delivering water, food and medical supplies to remote areas in the south and south-western regions, officials said.
A pair of Marine helicopters carried 750 gallons of bottled waters Saturday from the USS Kearsarge to the southern coastal city Barisal, marking the first delivery of aid by the US military.
Relief officials said, the two ships would start full-fledged relief operations from today (Monday).
"If we can utilise the huge capabilities of the US ships, we can successfully conduct a useful relief operation for the survivors," Moeen said.
Many of the survivors came from the remote areas for food handouts from the government and non-governmental organisations, which often do not visit those areas due to lack of proper road communication.
"Coordination among the relief distributors is a problem," Heather Blackwell, Oxfam's Bangladesh Representative, said after visiting some of the worst-hit areas.
Despite intensified relief operations by the government and the local and foreign groups, thousands of survivors, in search of relief, were crowding at river-banks and roadsides, witnesses said.
"Please coordinate with us, so that we can dispatch your relief goods to the survivors who need it most," General Moeen urged the local donors.
Cyclone 'Sidr', which hit on Nov 15, killed more than 3,000 people, left thousands missing or injured, and displaced some two million.
Meanwhile, the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge was in Bangladeshi waters to assist the authorities, while another ship, the USS Essex, was due to arrive here soon, the US embassy officials said.
Each ship carries about 20 helicopters, which will help in delivering water, food and medical supplies to remote areas in the south and south-western regions, officials said.
A pair of Marine helicopters carried 750 gallons of bottled waters Saturday from the USS Kearsarge to the southern coastal city Barisal, marking the first delivery of aid by the US military.
Relief officials said, the two ships would start full-fledged relief operations from today (Monday).
"If we can utilise the huge capabilities of the US ships, we can successfully conduct a useful relief operation for the survivors," Moeen said.
Many of the survivors came from the remote areas for food handouts from the government and non-governmental organisations, which often do not visit those areas due to lack of proper road communication.
"Coordination among the relief distributors is a problem," Heather Blackwell, Oxfam's Bangladesh Representative, said after visiting some of the worst-hit areas.