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Reconstruct Aila-hit embankments

Speakers urge govt

Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a discussion yesterday urged the government to take immediate steps to reconstruct and repair the breached embankments in the cyclone Aila-hit regions in order to help people return to
(heir homes.
Even three months after the cyclone, many tillages in the Aila-affected areas are still inundated and thousands of people live in dismal condition without shelter and proper water and sanitation facilities, they said.
Cyclone Aila ripped through the country’s southwestern coast on May 25, killing about hundred and washing away several thousand homes and properties.
Reconstruction of the damaged embankments is a must to rehabilitate the people, speakers at the discussion said, urging the government to create long-term employment opportunities for people of the affected areas.
Requesting the prime minister to visit the affected areas, they demanded
increasing the allotment of rice in the areas until the breached embankments are repaired.
The Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) Project, a joint effort of six humanitarian organisations -- CARE, Concern Worldwide, Catholic Relief Services, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision — organised the discussion to discuss the current challenges after three months of cyclone Aila.
Three lawmakers from Khulna who were present at the discussion, however, expressed their frustration at the government’s failure to take significant steps to help the affected people.
They also condemned the role of the Water Development Board (WDB) for its negligence to repair the dilapidated
embankments that got breached in several points during the Aila.
They added that people cannot return home as the villages are still under 2-3 feet water.
Shafiul Azam Lenin, chairman of an affected union in Satkhira, said the river water still enter his union during high tide inundating the villages. The problem will not be solved unless the damaged embankments are repaired, he said.
He also said the government is distributing rice under VGF cards among 2,000 peo-pie in a union, which is made-quale.
Nani Gopal Mondal, a lawmaker from Khulna, said the WDB did not do any development work for the dams after the independence, which
made them more vulnerable.
"Reconstruction of the dams, which were established during '60s, in the affected regions is a must," he said. He also demanded alternative income generating facilities for the affected and necessary measures to ensure safe drinkingwater.
Another lawmaker Sohrab Ali Sana said the condition of those areas is more vulnerable now compared to those days after the cyclone hit the areas.
Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury, member of standing committee on Food and Disaster Management, said he would place the problems in the next meeting of the committee.
He also said he would request the concerned authorities to increase the number of VGF cards in the areas.
Nazrul Islam Monju MP, Dr Ahsan Uddin Ahamed, adviser of Centre for Global Change, Barbara Burroughs, deputy country director of Save the Children, and Ziaul Haque, manager of Oxfam, also spoke.