BANGLADESH: Cyclone survivors collect long-awaited aid as relief efforts are intensified

Survivors in Bangladesh of Cyclone Sidr continue to collect aid as relief efforts are intensified. Bangladesh continued to prepare on Monday (November 26) for a major U.S.-assisted airlift of relief supplies to survivors without adequate aid nine days after a devastating cyclone. A total of 92 helipads have been built in the worst-hit coastal villages and helicopters from U.S. warships are assisting Bangladeshi aircraft, said Bangladesh's army chief, General Moeen U. Ahmed. Moeen said the U.S. navy ships would conduct relief operations in coordination with the Bangladesh government. Relief officials said two U.S. warships would start full-fledged operations from Monday. Cyclone Sidr, which hit the impoverished South Asian country on November 15, killed about 3,500 people, left thousands missing or injured, and displaced some 2 million. Despite intensified relief operations by the government and local and foreign groups, thousands of survivors hoping for food were crowding river banks and roadsides, witnesses said. In the village of Morolganj queued at a makeshift hospital to seek treatment for their injuries as others gathered at a nearby relief camp to collect clean water. "On the first day I got some puffed rice and red sugar, nothing else. Today I got this rice a clothes and some utensil," said one survivor, Rokeya Begum. The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge was in Bangladeshi waters to assist the authorities and another ship, the USS Essex, was due to arrive soon, U.S. 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 southwestern regions, officials said. A pair of Marine helicopters carried 750 gallons (3,410 litres) of bottled water flew on Saturday from the USS Kearsarge to the southern coastal city Barisal, marking the first delivery of aid by the U.S. military. Thousands of hungry survivors continued to throng river banks and roadsides in cyclone-torn coastal areas, reporters at the scene said. Many of the survivors came from remote areas hoping for food handouts from the government and non-governmental organisations, which often do not visit remote areas lacking road communications. Moeen called for coordination in relief operations. Bangladesh's air force, flying relief sorties with 13 helicopters and planes, was unable to cope with all the problems in the cyclone-hit areas, officials said. Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh within three months of devastating monsoon floods that killed over 1,000 people, made millions homeless and destroyed huge crops during July-August. ENDS.

ITN Source | November 26, 2007

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