THE destruction caused by cyclonic storm Mora has started to emerge as estimates suggest about 60,000 houses were damaged in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Satkhira districts. Moreover 10 to 20 lakh people were affected either to take refuge in cyclone shelters or see their belongings washed away. They need immediate help but the question is whether adequate assistance will reach the people soon to mitigate their sufferings. As per government claim the authorities will distribute food and cash to the people. But in our view cash does not reach the poor, middlemen take it away. So affected people should get assistance in kind and there must be strong vigilance to stop its misuse. The plan to rebuild houses also needs utmost care. Most money and construction materials fail to reach the affected ones.
Meanwhile, UNHCR said at least 20 per cent of the houses of stateless Rohingya people in Cox’s Bazar districts have been completely damaged. People’s sufferings multiply as the monsoon rainfall hit the coastal areas several days earlier. Many areas also remained without electricity since the cyclone has damaged dozens of electric transformers. Roads became damaged that need to be immediately repaired. We must say rescue and rehabilitation of the affected people must move quickly and any mismanagement and misuse of resources can’t be acceptable. Meanwhile repair of electricity lines must get quick.
We are relieved that the devastation was not so severe as the highest danger signal had alerted the people apprehending something worst may happen. Nonetheless to say thousands of people are now living in the open sky as the storm had lashed the southeastern coast and damaged thousands of houses and knocked down trees. We must say nature helped a lot to avoid the destruction as the cyclone made the landfall early in the morning when the tidal surge was on the fall. It passed through St Martins and some off-shore islands at a speed of 135 km which was enough to wreck havoc.
We must say our people are better aware now of danger of the cyclonic storm and their alertness saved a lot. Meanwhile, the number of dead is only few and search for the missing is on. Some residents of Moheshkhali island were rescued but over 135 fishermen are still missing.
All know it that every disaster brings immense opportunity for corrupt officials and dishonest party men involved in distribution of relief and rehabilitation materials to make illegal fortune. They often sell relief goods in black market but not arrested and punished. We have very sad experience from distribution of low cost rice and relief goods to flood-hit people in Sunamganj and other districts last month and many times in the past. Such practice with cyclone-affected people should not be repeated, it can’t be acceptable.
Meanwhile, UNHCR said at least 20 per cent of the houses of stateless Rohingya people in Cox’s Bazar districts have been completely damaged. People’s sufferings multiply as the monsoon rainfall hit the coastal areas several days earlier. Many areas also remained without electricity since the cyclone has damaged dozens of electric transformers. Roads became damaged that need to be immediately repaired. We must say rescue and rehabilitation of the affected people must move quickly and any mismanagement and misuse of resources can’t be acceptable. Meanwhile repair of electricity lines must get quick.
We are relieved that the devastation was not so severe as the highest danger signal had alerted the people apprehending something worst may happen. Nonetheless to say thousands of people are now living in the open sky as the storm had lashed the southeastern coast and damaged thousands of houses and knocked down trees. We must say nature helped a lot to avoid the destruction as the cyclone made the landfall early in the morning when the tidal surge was on the fall. It passed through St Martins and some off-shore islands at a speed of 135 km which was enough to wreck havoc.
We must say our people are better aware now of danger of the cyclonic storm and their alertness saved a lot. Meanwhile, the number of dead is only few and search for the missing is on. Some residents of Moheshkhali island were rescued but over 135 fishermen are still missing.
All know it that every disaster brings immense opportunity for corrupt officials and dishonest party men involved in distribution of relief and rehabilitation materials to make illegal fortune. They often sell relief goods in black market but not arrested and punished. We have very sad experience from distribution of low cost rice and relief goods to flood-hit people in Sunamganj and other districts last month and many times in the past. Such practice with cyclone-affected people should not be repeated, it can’t be acceptable.
