[ALOCHONA] Cyclone Sidr: Update

Relief supplies pile up while many survivors go hungry
Courtesy New Age 27/11/07

 

A great many people in remote areas of the cyclone-ravaged districts are still fighting a grim battle for survival although the public and private efforts for reaching relief supplies to the survivors have been intensified.

There are reports of favouritism and political bias in relief operations and local government representatives have been accused of giving priority to their respective support bases in preparing lists of affected people for relief distribution.

People, who are passing days half-fed or without food in the remotest areas, are largely being ignored as most of the activists are distributing food, warm clothes and utensils among the people of their choices or at places convenient to them. Many affected people are yet to be included in the government lists for distribution of relief supplies, according to reports reaching from the districts.

Our correspondent in Khulna reported from Sarankhola upazila on Monday that many starving people were going back home empty handed after hours of wait for relief because their names were not included in the list.

The upazila administration said they received enough relief materials from the government and private groups for distribution.

They said the government was preparing lists of cyclone-affected people and the relief goods would be distributed as per the lists.

‘Some people might be left out for the time being, but we will accommodate them in the list,’ said Anwar Hossain, chairman of Southkhali Union Parishad in Sharankhola. ‘The administration is continuously updating the list’, he added.

In remote Haritana village of Patharghata, many cyclone-victims were seen waiting for relief supplies. ‘No one has visited us with relief good as yet,’ said a victim. Many of the villagers are passing nights in the open half-fed or without food.

Our Patuakhali correspondent reported that the US Marine supplied drinking water, water purifying tablets, oral saline and medicine for the cyclone victims at Kalapara, Kuakata and Galachipa upazilas.

A group of Awami League leaders also distributed relief supplies among the destitute. They distributed rice, lentils, dry food and cash money among the victims.

The visiting US Third Marine expeditionary brigade commander, Brigadier General Ronald L Bailey, discussed relief operations with the army chief General Moyeen U Ahmed at the armed forces division on Monday.

During the meeting, the US and Bangladesh officials agreed on plans to increase delivery of aid to the cyclone-affected regions in the coming days.

Meanwhile, a KC-130 aircraft from the United States arrived at Zia International Airport to begin delivering more water purification systems to affected areas. The US plans to assist in the airlifting of 160 tons of goods from existing Bangladesh government supplies, an American center release said.

The USS Kearsarge continued to airlift potable water to the affected areas.

 

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