Army joins relief operation in Cox's Bazar

Bangladesh Army swung into action in Cox's Bazar's Ukhia upazila yesterday to bring discipline in the ongoing relief operation for Rohingya refugees who have taken shelter fleeing the atrocities in Myanmar.

They have also set up a control room at Ukhia Degree College to preserve relief materials, said Maj Rashed Akter, one of the coordinators of the army aid distribution cell.

"We have started working to bring the aid collection and distribution process under a chain of command. We have already inspected different refugee camps and also received aid consignments coming from different places," he told the news agency.

The army yesterday received some 30 trucks of aid sent by different people and companies and kept those in their control room. According to the sources, army will start distribution today.

Alongside army, the district administration will continue their aid distribution in five refugee camps in Teknaf and seven in Ukhia.

"If any international agency wants to distribute their aid directly to the refugees, we will not obstruct them," Maj Akter added.

Meanwhile, the refugees in Kutupalong camp are happy with the flow of aid.

"We are receiving adequate aid including food and medicines," said Amena Khatun, a refugee.

The Rohingyas, who took shelter at the foot of hills outside the camps, however, said they are facing difficulties in receiving aid.