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Download PDF Emphasising on setting up more cyclone shelters for humans considering the growth of the population, Chief of Army Staff Gen Moeen U Ahmed yesterday said the government must construct livestock shelters too, as they are the only assets of many people.
“The shelters for humans were built after the 1991 disaster. Although the population grew a lot in size since then and people moved from there earlier places of residents, no new shelter was set up. So we should immediately construct more shelters after assessing the requirement,” Moeen told reporters after a meeting with US Navy Commander of the Pacific Admiral Timothy J Keating, in the Army Headquarters.
Expressing deep sympathy for Sidr affected families, US Admiral Timothy who was welcomed by the Bangladesh chief of army staff, said he has come to Bangladesh as a US representative to offer their assistance. The US navy commander said the US relief team will stay here until their duty of rendering assistance to the Bangladesh government in relief work is completed.
Earlier, Admiral Timothy was briefed at the Armed Forces Division on deaths and destruction caused by Sidr in 15 south and south-western coastal districts.
US Charge d’Affaires Geeta Pasi said the US embassy and USAID will assist in the rehabilitation of Sidr survivors for several months.
Admiral Timothy told journalists after the meeting that they will provide necessary relief goods including medical systems, infrastructural facilities, food supply, and long term solution in ameliorating the sufferings of the survivors.
First food, water and medicine will be ensured as immediate steps, and then emphasise will be given on reconstruction as a midterm plan, and finally the embankments will be repaired, Geta Pasi outlined the US plan.
Moeen said although the official count put the number of livestock lost around 2.5 lakh, he thinks that the actual number is much higher.
Cyclone Sidr devastated the country’s coastal belt on November 15 leaving 3,199 people officially dead and lakhs homeless.
“Probably, people have escaped death but their only capital cattle have not been saved. So, I’ve requested the government to set up shelters for livestock along for humans,” the army chief said.
“We must build shelters for cattle, otherwise it won’t be possible to prevent the repeat of such loss in the future,” he added.
The army chief said their plan is to go from door to door with foodstuffs in every union of the cyclone affected areas. “We have our experience and we will be able to do it, Inshallah,” he said.
Asked about what should be done to make sure the relief materials reach the affected people in remote areas, Moeen said roads have been damaged badly everywhere in the affected areas and there are fallen trees on the roads, which have to be cleaned up. He however claimed that they have already restored most of the road communication.
The top army official requested all donors to contact the Barisal headquarters of the army, where a base for relief operation has been set up, for making sure that the relief materials reach all needy areas according to their specific needs.
It was seen in the aftermath of earlier disasters that people donate relief materials to a place where it is easy to go, leaving the rest of the needy places out the operation, he said adding if donors contact the Barisal headquarters of the army, they will be informed where the current need for relief exists, making it more possible to reach all needy areas.
He said the donors should monitor whether the government or NGOs or private relief teams have already reached an area twice.
Replying to a query on whether there is nay barrier for politicians to participate in the relief operation, Moeen said it is open to all and politicians’ help is needed at the time. “People will help people, and that’s what matters,” he said.
He said the cyclone victims must be rehabilitated, but first they need food, water and clothing, and then shelter, adding that he had noticed most of the cyclone affected people only have a single set of clothing. The army distributed clothing among the survivors, Moeen said adding no one has been thinking about the milk for the surviving children. “We have to give the children milk,” he said.
“So if we work together, and the people come forward with their high sprits, we will be successful in tackling the disaster,” the army chief confidently said.
Asked about the politicians’ demand for lifting the state of emergency in Sidr affected districts, Moeen posed a counter question to the journalists asking whether there is any link between the two.
He said the US ships, that are bringing more relief materials, personnel, and logistical support to the country for the relief operation, are already in Bangladeshi waters, and the relief team will start its work within a couple of days.
Moeen noted that US helicopters will airlift relief goods from Dhaka and Chittagong to Barisal, from where those will be sent to the affected areas by choppers again. “It will be a good help,” said the general hoping that there will be no immediate food shortage in the affected areas.
Noting that getting drinking water in the affected areas is really very tough, Moeen said he sent all mobile water purification plants of the Bangladesh Army to the affected areas on November 17 and the US also donated 10 such plants, promising to donate more.
“This way we are trying to fulfil the needs for food and water, and after that we will start the rehabilitation work. We will also asses how the US team might help in the rehabilitation work,” Gen Moeen added.
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