Military rescuers reach all districts

The armed forces yesterday managed to reach to all villages of the districts ravaged by Cyclone Sidr with the military putting the death toll at 3,153.
During a news briefing at the operations room of the Armed Forces Division (AFD), which is overseeing the emergency aid and rescue operations, Major Emdadul Islam yesterday said the velocity of Sidr was as severe as the cyclone of 1991 but the loss of life and the damage have been much less this time. He said 1,38,882 people were killed in 1991.
The loss of lives is much less this time as more preparations and cautionary measures had been taken, Major Emdad said giving a comparison of losses and damages due to Sidr and the 1991 cyclone.
He said the number of people missing in 1991 cyclone was 20,000 while so far 1,063 persons have been reported missing since Sidr hit the country on Thursday. He also said Sidr damaged crops on 8,71,766 acres of land while in the 1991 cyclone crops on 3,50,000 acres had been damaged.
Sidr damaged 57 km of embankments while 3,84,076 tress were destroyed by it, the AFD reported.
It was disclosed at the briefing that the government has so far distributed more than Tk 1.52 crore of government relief (GR) in cash, 7,320 metric tons of rice, over Tk 1.46 crore in housing grants, 13 thousand bundles of corrugated iron sheets, 7,960 tents, 18,000 pieces of blankets, and 3,348 family packs.
Asked about the two aircraft of the United States Marine Corps that had reached Dhaka early Monday, carrying a US team and medical equipment to provide emergency relief and medical services to Sidr survivors, General Staff Officer (GSO)-1 of AFD Lt Col Mainullah Chowdhury said they have yet to get involved in the relief operations.
He said a US assessment team yesterday visited the affected areas to prepare logistics about where the aircraft, that had carried 37 US relief team members, might be deployed and how they might be used.
"They will submit a proposal regarding the matter to the government and then a final decision will be taken," Lt Col Mainullah said.
Asked when the two US ships with relief will reach Bangladesh, he said, "Not before the end of this month."
According to a news release of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), US Navy ship "ASSEX' has started for Bangladesh for taking part in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations with Bangladesh Navy. It is expected that the rescue and relief programmes will become more effective and successful by the joint activities of the US and Bangladesh navies.
CONTACT ADDRESS FOR SENDING RELIEF
Persons willing to send relief have been asked to contact Major AHM Nazrul Islam, Artillery, GSO-2 (CL), Telephone: 8750011 Ext: 4378 (off), 4379 (Res)
Account address: Armed Forces Division "Operations and Plans Directorate Miscellaneous" Fund. The Trust Bank Ltd, Principal Branch. Account No. 02-0310197069.
ARMY
Bangladesh Army continued its relief and rescue operations and medical services to the people of cyclone-affected areas in Southern Bangladesh, said an ISPR news release yesterday.
It said army personnel distributed 81.10 metric tons (MT) of foodstuffs to the cyclone hit people between November 17 and November 19. They distributed foodstuffs include rice, lentil, potato, salt, and edible oil. They also distributed kitchen utensils and oral saline.
The army is working in full swing to clear blocked roads, and army personnel were deployed in Morelganj, Sarankhola, Mathbaria, Bhandaria, Mirzaganj, Barisal Airport, Galachipa, Kalapara and Kathalia on November 17 and 18 to carry out relief and rescue operations.
Moreover, five army medical teams are working relentlessly at Sarankhola, Mathbaria, Mirzaganj, Galachipa, and Kathalia to treat people suffering from waterborne diseases including diarrhoea. They are also supplying water purification tablets.
The army will continue its relief operations until normalcy return to Sidr affected areas, the news release added.
NAVY
Bangladesh Navy is also carrying out massive relief and rehabilitation operations in Sidr affected coastal areas.
Five ships of the navy are operating in those areas. Naval craft are ferrying relief items to remote cyclone hit areas, which are also being transported by Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) helicopters, said another ISPR release yesterday.
A naval contingent deployed at Barguna is distributing the relief items collected from different sources with the help of the local administration, the release said.
It said BNS Modhumoti, carried 3 MT of rice, 86 kg flattened rice, 160 kg puffed rice, and other relief items to Dublarchar and the navy distributed those to 2,000 cyclone affected families.
Besides, two medical teams of the navy are providing necessary medical assistance and medicines to the cyclone affected people. BNS LCT-101 and BNS Sangu have been deployed near Patharghata and Saint Martin's Island respectively, the ISPR release added.
AIR FORCE
Bangladesh Air Force continued its relief activities in remote cyclone affected areas using its helicopters and aircraft, said another ISPR news release yesterday.
Ten helicopters and three other aircraft are engaged in ferrying relief materials.
The air force personnel carried 160 tons of relief materials to the affected people since November 16, the release added.
The areas where relief materials were sent are Hiron Point, Dublarchar, Kuakata, Mathbaria, Bhandaria, Amtoli, Barguna, Patharghata, Sarankhola, Kalapara, Galachipa, Mirzaganj, Kathalia, and South Khali.
The relief materials include rice, lentil, flour, flattened rice, salt, mineral water, saris, lungis, candles, and biscuits.
Ansar-VDP
Bangladesh Ansar-VDP is also carrying out relief and rehabilitation activities titled 'Operation Sahanubhuti' in the affected areas of Mongla, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Sarankhola, Pirojpur, Barisal, Mathbaria, Jhalakathi, Khepupara, Patharghata, Bhola, Monpura, Charfashion, Patuakhali, Amtoli, Chandpur, Feni, Laxmipur and Cox's Bazar.
As the director general (DG) of the force is now abroad, the additional DG has been supervising the operation, said a news release.