The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Armed Forces Division (AFD) yesterday said that the members of the armed forces has been continuing its effort to rescue operation in cyclone hit areas and assisting the civil administration in distribution of relief materials, restoring communications and power, providing treatment and carrying out rehabilitation activities.

Our prime focus is to assist the civil administration to rescue the cyclone victims, carrying out relief distribution and rehabilitation programmes, said Brig Gen Qazi Abidus Samad, Director of Operation and Plans Directorate while briefing journalists at the AFD operations room.

Asked whether two US assault ships are coming to Bangladesh to help the country in its rescue operation and rehabilitation programmes, Abidus Samad said US Embassy in Dhaka communicated with them.

Transport can be a great help at this moment to carry out reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes. We may take assistance from our friendly countries. But decision will be taken at the top-level of the government. We will welcome foreign assistance, if the government takes a decision in this regard, he said.

He said, we would try to utilize our own assets first to deal with the post-cyclone situation and if necessary we could take help from other countries interested to assist us.

Abidus Samad said the US Embassy informed them two visiting medical teams, now in Dhaka, are ready to provide medical assistance in cyclone hit areas. The teams are on way to USA after completion of their medical assistance programmes in Comilla.

He said the AFD has already four medical teams in the cyclone-hit areas and two more teams would be sent today.

The AFD also coordinate the NGO activities to avoid duplication in relief distribution and rehabilitation activities.

Earlier, Lt Col Mainullah Chowdhury of the AFD highlighted the activities being carried out by the Army, Navy and Air Force in cyclone-hit areas.

He said the AFD has already sent and distributed 66 metric tones of relief materials in the remote areas utilizing 12 helicopters and three cargo plans.

Mainullah said the AFD has opened a monitoring cell in Dhaka to maintain communication department concerned and coordinate in its activities round the clock.

He said the AFD has the plan to assist the civil administration in its relief distribution and rehabilitation programmes, providing medical assistance and housing materials to the affected people, setting out temporary shelter stations and restoring power, communication and IT system.

Director General of Relief and Disaster Management Directorate Sadruddin Ahmed was present during the press briefing.