Cyclone threatens mlns in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar
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E-mail Xinhua, May 14, 2013
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that Tropical Cyclone Mahasen is moving toward India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, and it is expected to land later this week, likely to threaten the lives of millions of people in the three countries, a UN spokesman said here Monday.
"OCHA says that a 'red storm' alert remains in effect for Tropical Cyclone Mahasen, which is moving towards India, Bangladesh and Myanmar," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said at a daily news briefing. "It is expected to make landfall on Thursday. "
"The Office says that, depending on the cyclone's final trajectory, it could threaten the lives of millions of people in northeast India, Bangladesh and Myanmar's Rakhine State," he said.
"In Bangladesh, the government has initiated preparations, while humanitarian agencies have started prepositioning supplies in the most vulnerable areas," he said. "In Myanmar, the Rakhine State government has activated its disaster reduction plan, which includes relocation and evacuation. Those who are internally displaced within the State have been informed of the storm alert."
Bangladesh and Myanmar have already issued cyclone alert and made necessary preparations for the tropical storm.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said on Monday that Mahasen was currently in the Bay of Bengal, some 1,355 kilometers south west of Chittagong, the country's second largest city, and it could make landfall in the southeast of the country on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Myanmar has begun moving people living in tents in flood-prone camps in the Rahhine State in the western part of the country to higher ground and wooden shelter in preparations for the cyclone, reports said.
