The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Information Barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday emphasised the need for distribution of relief materials in a coordinated manner in the cyclone affected southern part of the country.

Reaching of relief materials to everybody can be ensured, if the process of coordinated mechanism, earned from long experience, is followed in carrying out relief operation, he said while briefing journalists after an opinion exchange meeting with the news editors of electronic media.

The Adviser said proper distribution of relief goods would not be possible if someone wants to distribute foodstuff or drinking water to the affected people separately. One may visit a place where the Government had already distributed relief materials, he added.

That's why, he said, we suggested for distribution of relief materials through us or to carry out relief distribution informing the Government or taking its logistic support since the government has the information of what things are needed in which places.

In this context, he referred to the tragic incident that occurred after a bridge collapsed in Patuakhali during such an individual effort to distribute some clothes and foodstuff there. The distributor neither informed anyone nor took assistance from us, he said.

"Despite having good will, we all have to understand how we can reach materials to the affected people properly," the Law Adviser said adding, we have to be cautious so that no anarchic situation arises centring distribution of relief goods.

He called upon all to extend their cooperation in saving the lives of the affected people, creating employment opportunities for their livelihood and bringing normalcy to their lives.

Barrister Mainul Hosein said cleaning contaminated water of the ponds in the cyclone-affected areas had become a major problem.

Referring to the necessity of providing work to the affected people, the Adviser said the government, along with its test relief, would start Food for Work Programme from December.

The Law Adviser underlined the need for creating coordination with the local leaders and social workers at the union level to ensure reaching relief material to all.

He referred to the immediate steps taken by the government like taking the assistance of the joint forces, posted at Upazila level, to face the post disaster situation and said that there was still a crisis of relief materials. At the moment clothes were mostly needed in many places, he said.

Calling upon the business community to come forward in distributing clothes among the cyclone affected people, Barrister Mainul Hosein said the government has almost been able to arrange rice and pulse for the victims but we are urging the businessmen to provide saree, lungi and warm clothes as relief.

It is hard to claim total success in facing such a severe disaster in a short span of time despite all out preparedness, he said.

Terming the arrival of two US ships, carrying a number of helicopters, as a matter of good luck, he said the helicopters are being used in relief operation.

He said though the country did not appeal for international assistance it is getting a good response in this regard.

They (donors) are coming with assistance willingly seeing our sincere efforts to deal with the situation and observing the suffering of the people, he opined.

The Adviser, however, hoped that the government would get international assistance if it were necessary in carrying out long-term programmes, including construction of cyclone centres.

"We are getting enough assistance and certainly it is needed. We are getting promise and indication in this regard," he said.