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Schoolchildren beg in tornado-torn Netrakona

Villagers allege 'very limited' relief in only roadside areas

STAR REPORT
Largely without food and water for five straight days after Wednesday's twin tornadoes in two northern districts, a phalanx of schoolchildren begged yesterday while most affected families continued to camp out in their devastated homesteads.
Three more injured people died in hospital yesterday, taking the death toll from the monster twisters that battered 45 villages in Netrakona and five villages in Haluaghat in Mymensingh to 68. At least 13 Haluaghat victims contracted diarrhoea drinking contaminated water and inedible foods.
"There is no difference. Children from both rich and poor families are begging in desperation for survival here," said Ripon, 6, one of about 100 children begging in Netrakona Sadar.
Mosque loudspeakers blared appeal for help for the victims, espe-
cially unfed children.
The tornado-stricken villagers alleged government relief efforts were 'very limited' and covered only villages accessible by vehicles.
Only 'a lucky few' of about 3,000 twister-torn families in Netrakona and residents of five villages in Haluaghat received tents, they added.
"The government claims that it is distributing cash and corrugated iron sheets, but we are yet to see them," a villager said.
Visiting far-flung Dholamulgaon union and Shaldigha, Kuakanda, Laujana villages in Netrakona Sadar and Atkapara village in Purbodhala, The Daily Star correspondent did not find any relief activity.
"I have been waiting here since morning, but relief is yet to arrive," said schoolteacher Monirul Hasan, sitting helplessly on Atkapara High School ground.
"I have received only 10 extra
lungis which I'll have to send back," said Mustafizur Rahman, chairman of Mougati union.
Many people alleged they were denied the minimum relief materials being distributed in their areas as they were not listed with the local administration.
Some from the unaffected villages in Netrakona and Mymensingh and from neighbouring Kishoreganj, Lalmonirhat and other districts distributed relief among the victims on their own.
Our Mymensingh correspondent adds: Most villagers of Kaliani Kanda were near-starving as no relief reached the worst affected village. Locals opened a community kitchen there for the survival of villagers.
People in Samuliapara and Boalmara villages nestled
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beside Haluaghat-Dhubaura Road said they received scant relief goods.
Lack of coordination hobbled relief efforts in some areas. "They're distributing relief materials among the same victims, while many people are yet to receive anything to eat or drink," said Afaz Uddin of Gazirbhita.
Many injured people in Haluaghat went without treatment.
Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon and Netrakona Nagorik Uddyog yesterday demanded immediate supplies of medicine, oral saline, water purification tablets, tubewells and rehabilitation of the victims.
Netrakona victims Rekha, 22, and Abdul Hannan, 45, and Haluaghat victim Nur Jahan, 30, died at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital yesterday.
The deputy commissioner's office in Netrakona said about 3,000 families were affected and 6,000 houses and eight education institutions damaged in the tornado. About 1,000 people underwent treatment, of whom 278 were treated at Netrakona Sadar Hospital and 268 at Mymensingh Hospital, it added.
The government yesterday sanctioned 100 tonnes of rice, 1,000 tins of biscuit, 500 cans of water, 300 saris, 200 lungis, 198 tents, 750 bundles of corrugated iron sheets, Tk 50,000 in cash and Tk 2,50,000 in house building assistance for Netrakona victims.