U.S. aircraft join Bangladesh relief effort

A medical team from the U.S. naval ship USS Kearsarge set up a unit in the town of Barisal on the southern coast where survivors requiring urgent attention will be airlifted from remote areas, officials said.

Cyclone Sidr, which hit the impoverished South Asian country on Nov. 15, killed about 3,500 people, left thousands missing or injured, and displaced some 2 million.

Despite intensified relief operations thousands of survivors were yet to get food and water. Many crowded river banks and roadsides in the hope of food handouts, reporters at the scene said.

The Bangladesh army, which is leading the relief effort, said it had had discussions with U.S. officials and supplies will start reaching the remote areas.

“I hope the discussion was fruitful and the U.S. forces will engage helicopters to airlift foods and medicines to survivors,” said Brigadier-General Abidus Samad, an operations commander of Bangladesh army.

Bangladesh’s air force, flying relief sorties with 13 helicopters and planes, was unable to cope with all the problems in the cyclone-hit areas, officials said.

On Monday U.S. helicopters made five sorties carrying 2,500 gallons of water, while a C-130 aircraft brought food supplies to Barisal, the center of the relief effort, officials said.

A total of 92 helipads have been built in the worst-hit coastal villages for relief helicopters from the U.S. and Bangladesh.

The U.S. helicopters are drawn from amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge which arrived in Bangladesh waters on Friday to assist the authorities, U.S. embassy officials said.

The ship carries about 20 helicopters, which will help in delivering water, food and medical supplies to remote areas in the south and southwestern regions, officials said. Another ship was due to arrive soon, officials said.

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