The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A coordination meeting on conducting Bangladesh-US joint relief operation in the cyclone-hit areas was held Monday at the Army Headquarters, where the American side offered to extend all-out cooperation in the humanitarian task.

"During the meeting, U.S. and Bangladesh officials agreed on plans to increase delivery of aid to the cyclone-affected regions in the coming days," said a US embassy spokesman.

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed chaired the meeting, which discussed providing all-out cooperation to Bangladesh army, including transport facility, supplying pure drinking water in the cyclone-affected areas, sending medical team and medicine for free from the USA during the relief operation.

US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Geeta Pasi and 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade commander Brigadier General Ronald L. Bailey and other high army officials were present at the talks, ISPR said.

High officials of Bangladesh Army, including Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt General Masud Uddin Chowdhury and Chief of General Staff of Bangladesh Army Major General Sina Ibne Jamali, were also present.

Meanwhile, an American KC-130 aircraft arrived at Zia International Airport in Dhaka Monday to begin delivering more water-purification systems to affected areas.

In the coming days, the United States plans to assist in the airlifting of 160 tons of goods from existing Bangladesh government supplies, the US embassy said.

The US warship USS Kearsarge continued to reach more areas with much-needed fresh water. Troops from the Kearsarge today used helicopters to begin airlifting 5,000 refillable 5.5-gallon water containers to various locations, including Dublar Char, Bagherat and Barguna districts.

"In addition, a U.S. Army medical team which has been in-country since early November providing medical support as part of a separate program has deployed to the Pataukhali area along with medics from the Kearsarge to provide additional medical support to overstretched Bangladeshi resources there," said the American mission.

In the coming days, this medical team plans to visit four different locations in the affected area to provide medical assistance.

The USS Kearsarge, currently off the coast of Bangladesh, is playing a primary role in supporting the US assistance mission. "The USNS Concord is in the vicinity of Bangladesh and has re-supplied the Kearsarge, while the USS Essex, originally intended to support the Kearsarge, will instead continue with its scheduled plans," said the embassy in a release.