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One year passed, 'Aila' victims still suffering: In May 25, on the day last year an unprecedented natural disaster 'Aila' devastated the South-Western region of the country causing deaths to hundreds of people and damaging a vast tract with unparallel ferocity.

Even after one year of the calamity, the people of greater Khulna and Satkhira districts could not return to normal life by overcoming their sufferings and helplessly they remember the day when nature' fury came down on them.

Over one lakh Aila affected people of Koyra and Dacope upazila in Khulna were not rehabilitated and leading sub-human life under the open sky. They do not have even access to safe water as the fresh water sources were damaged due intrusion of saline water during storm.

Chairman of Kamarkhola Union Parishad(UP) Samresh Chandra Roy and Chairman of Suterkhali Union Parishad(UP) Bidhu Naryan Sarder told BSS that about 30,000 people yet to return their homes as reconstruction of damaged embankments is yet to be completed.

"About 27 km embankment was completely and 35 km partially damaged, seven closers were broken, many of the damaged educational institutions, roads, culverts were not reconstructed after one year of the disaster. Crop fields are still under the saline water. How the cyclone victims return to their villages where they have a little to do," they said.

They also regretted that the government has allocated only Taka 18 crore for the rehabilitation of Aila affected people, which is a very small amount in comparison to the massive damage.

Sources said about 80 percent of the construction works of embankments, four closures out of seven were completed. Three other closures Jaliakhali, Goalbunia and Nalian canal are under construction, they said.

"The people of Kamarkhola and shuterkhali unions will have to face trouble if the rest of the reconstruction of the embankments and closures were not completed before the rainy season," chairmen of the two unions said.

Koyra upazila Chairman GM Mohsin Reza told the news agency that about 80,000 people have returned to their homes. Rest of the people are living on the roads and cyclone shelters.

He said the people of Koyra Sadar, Maharajpur, Baghali, Maheswaripur, Uttar Bedkashi and Dakhin Bedkashi are the worst sufferers of the cyclone Aila.

Water is pouring in the affected areas through 49 points, he said adding that water is entering through Pobna, Padmapukur and Jorsing points from the Kopotakkha and Shakbaria rivers. People of the unions will continue to suffer if the reconstruction works will not complete before the rainy season.

Khulna district relief office sources said the government has disbursed Taka 2.4 crore as "Khoirati Aid" and Taka 6.65 crore as house building grant. The government has distributed relief among the distressed people of six upazilas and one Pourasabha in the district.

The relief materials included 6,207 metric ton rice, 5,150 pieces sarees, 2,000 pieces lungies, 4,200 jarican, 725 tents and 10,000 liters drinking water.

District relief officer BM Rafiul Islam told BSS, 37,810 VGF card holders are getting 20 kg rice against each card every month since September last year.

Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) will run Safe Water Supply Program (SWSP) in the Aila affected areas of Khulna and Satkhira. The programme will continue for 75 days from the day of receiving allocation of Taka one crore from the government.

Source: BSS, http://priyo.com/news/2010/may/25/40969.html

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