Food assistance delivered to CHT landslide victims: Maya

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury (Maya) Bir Bikram said the government has already allocated food assistance to different shelters for landslide victims in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) to survive till 15 July.

"Eight thousands people are now living at 47 shelters. The government has disbursed Taka 20,000 to families of each person who lost life in the landslide and Taka 5,000 to 15,000 to each injured person. Eighty three medical teams are providing first aid to the injured people," Maya said.

The minister said this while addressing a press briefing after attending an inter-ministerial meeting at the conference room of his ministry.

Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md Shah Kamal, Health Secretary Md Sirajul Haque Khan, Environment & Forests Secretary in Charge Istiaque Ahmad, Defence Secretary in Charge Akhter Hussain Bhuiya and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Secretary Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura attended the meeting, among others.

Maya said the government has so far allocated 1,051 tonnes of rice, Taka 88 lakh and 500 bundles of corrugated iron sheets for the victims.

This year`s rainfall in the CHT was highest in the last fifty years, causing worse landslide in the history of the country, the meeting observed.

A 27-member committee has been formed to make proposals about the things to do to prevent landslides and the committee has already started its work, an official release said.

The meeting also gave emphasis on formulating hill management policy and forming separate teams of volunteers in this regard.

The meeting also requested the Ministry of Environment & Forests to carry out afresh forestation in the hills to check natural calamities.

Source: BSS