US Marines ready to start relief operations

Around 2,300 US Marines and Navy personnel are set to start a massive operation in a day or two to reach relief materials to the victims of Cyclone Sidr in the coastal districts.
The US forces, with the help of a huge naval ship with 30 helicopters, aircraft and three hovercrafts on board, will carry out the full-scale operations.
"We've already started delivering relief materials. We're looking for starting a full-scale operation in a day or two and that would be a priority of moving water and medical teams," Brig Gen Ronald Bailey of US Marines told reporters on board the USS Kearsarge.
Meantime, two more Pakistani and one Indian military cargo aircraft landed in Bangladesh yesterday with relief aid for the cyclone-hit people.
USS Kearsarge, a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship, is now anchored 50 km off Chittagong Port.
Brig Gen Bailey said they will hold meetings with their Bangladeshi counterparts today and "move into what I call massive relief operations shortly thereafter".
Communications Adviser MA Matin, US Charge d'Affaires Geeta Pasi, senior US and Bangladeshi defence officials and a group of reporters were flown to the USS Kearsarge yesterday morning to give them an overview of the capability of the US ship.
Capt James Gregorski, commanding officer of the ship, said the ship, among other logistics, carries 30 helicopters and aircraft and three hovercraft that are capable of running both on sea and ashore.
Recalling Bangladesh's help after Hurricane Katrina devastated part of the US, Gregorski said the US personnel would continue to support the efforts already begun by the Bangladesh authority. About one of the capabilities of the ship, he said it could produce 200,000 gallons of water everyday.
Rear Admiral Carol Pottenger, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group-7, said, "We have lot of capabilities … We are here to support your military and the government."
Capt Robert Bougher, commander of Kearsarge strike group, said they would do, with the full extent of their capability and power, what they are asked to do.
Adviser Matin seemed impressed with the capabilities of the USS Kearsarge. "It's incredible. It can transport 165 tonnes of good everyday. Besides, they're capable of delivering 15,200 gallons of water after purifying it," he said.
Matin said the ship has got 18 rubber bladders, which could be set up in 18 places.
Saying that there has been a coordination meeting on board the ship yesterday, the adviser said he will hold meetings today at his ministry office to discuss the matter with the departments concerned.
"We'll gather information about available materials and will try to transport these materials from Dhaka and Chittagong to Barisal from where they'll be reached to district headquarters by road or watercraft."
The helicopters could be used to carry materials from districts to upazilas.
US Charge d'Affaires Geeta Pasi said the US has been providing assistance for Bangladesh for many years. "Even before the cyclone hit, we dispatched goods from Dhaka and other places to areas where we thought the cyclone will touch down so that we were able to help people with food and non-food items right away."
On delivery of drinking water on Friday, she said, "This is a very good beginning and we have very good discussion. I think it underscores the importance of bilateral relationship Bangladesh and US enjoy."
TWO MORE PAKISTANI PLANES REACH BARISAL
Two more C-130 cargo aircraft of Pakistan Air Force, with medicines, medical equipment and 24 paramedics on board, reached Barisal yesterday to provide medical care for the cyclone victims.
Another two C-130 aircraft arrived in Barisal Friday with a 30-bed mobile field hospital and 55 doctors and nurses who set up medical camps for the affected people in Patuakhali.
The Pakistan government has so far sent in six C-130 aircraft, carrying 89 doctors and nurses and relief materials -- tents, food items, blankets, medicines and medical equipment.
The teams will give medical care to people in the worst-affected areas, hand out free medicines and will stay in there as long as it is necessary.
Besides, a Pak navy ship, 'PNS Nasr', will set up a medical camp at a suitable place in the cyclone-damaged area. Arrangements for this are being made in consultation with the government.
The ship will also distribute food among the people. Another ship, carrying relief goods including food, will leave Pakistani port city of Karachi for Bangladesh soon.
THIRD INDIAN AIRCRAFT ARRIVES
A third IL-76 aircraft of Indian Air Force arrived in Dhaka yesterday, carrying relief aid weighing about 41.07 tonnes.
The relief is part of 'Operation Sahayata' that the Indian government launched for providing relief materials for the cyclone victims in Bangladesh.
Under the 'Operation Sahayata', relief assistance worth Tk 5.2 crore is being provided, said an Indian High Commission release.
Relief materials that the third Indian aircraft flew in include 21.2 tonnes of meal-ready-to-eat, portable water purifiers and 1,500 kgs of medicines.