Prepared for cyclone Komen: Maya

The government has stocked shelters with supplies, deployed disaster response forces and evacuated thousands of people in coastal areas to face cyclone Komen, says Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya.

He told journalists in a Thursday briefing after an emergency inter-ministerial meeting at the Secretariat he hoped the cyclone would not cause much damage.

“We are fully prepared to face any disaster,” the minister said, insisting there will be no shortage of food supplies for those who might be affected by the cyclone.

Maya said 300,000 people were moved to 288 cyclone shelters and no one was left in houses in areas considered risky. Thirteen districts in the possible path of the cyclone have been covered by such evacuation.  

“Announcements over loudspeakers were made in these places, disaster warning flags were raised and sirens used to alert all as planned.”

The minister said the prime minister was personally monitoring the whole situation and keeping an eye on efforts,

Maya said they were in touch with Cox’s Bazar’s deputy commissioner on what might be needed.

He said Tk 1 million were disbursed on Thursday to facilitate the anti-cyclone preparations.

Responding to a query, Maya said the army was kept on alert. “The Army has always played a direct role in facing national disasters."