Relief Operation
Foreign aides won't stay longer than needed
A packet of oral saline brings smile to a mother as the life-saving item would help her child. The photo was taken from Sidr-ravaged Mazhar Char in Patharghata, now vulnerable to diarrhoea.Photo: Focus Bangla
Communications Adviser Maj Gen (rtd) MA Matin, who is in charge of coordinating relief and rehabilitation activities in the Sidr affected areas, said foreign forces including the US Navy will not stay a single more day than required for providing relief and rehabilitation help to the distressed people. Remembering the service of the US armed forces during the devastating cyclone of 1991 when he was a member of Bangladesh Army, he said then the US forces performed in 10/12 days, that would take many more days for the local organisatons. There should be no confusion or question about the aim, work and staying period of the foreign forces in Bangladesh, he said during a short break at Barisal Airport on the way to his visit to Barguna on Monday noon. Four teams of US Navy have already started work at Southkhali and Dublarchar of Bagerhut, Bamna of Barguna and Kalapara, Rangabali and Dashmina of Patuakhali districts. A 104-member Pakistan Army medical core with ambulance, medicines and other medical equipment are working in teams in Mathbaria, Zianagar and Patharghata upazilas and adjacent areas. As many as 424 medical teams are working in the Sidr-hit areas and relief and rehabilitation works including repair and construction of houses and communication are also going on with the help of Bangladesh armed forces. The distressed fishermen and farmers will be provided with help including bank loans on easy terms for their rehabilitation, the adviser said. Any kinds of indiscipline, mismanagement and corruption in relief work and misappropriation, black marketing, and price manipulation of relief items and hoarding of essential commodities would be tackled hard, he said.
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