The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The development partners of Bangladesh have assured of providing grants in aid of the people affected by the catastrophic cyclone 'Sidr' that ripped through south and southwestern region of the country on Thursday midnight. Food and Disaster Management acting secretary M Ayub Miah informed this after a meeting at the ministry today (Sunday) with the representatives of 42 development organisations and UN bodies. Among the donor agencies, he said, UNDP would provide US$ 7 million while World Food Programme (WFP) allocated 10,000 metric tons of rice and 200 tons of high protein biscuits.

Other assurances include US$ 5.3 million by UNICEF, US$ 5 million by the UK government, US$ 2.1 million and 35 tons of rice by USAID, 4 million pound sterling by Islamic Relief-UK and 5,000 Euro by Spain. WFP has already started distributing 78 metric tons of high protein biscuits while the UNDP is providing water purification tablets. Some other organisations, including the Canadian government, would provide assistance after assessing the extent of damage caused by the cyclone, said the Disaster Management secretary.

According to the government statistics, the death toll the cyclone rose to 1,814 till 8am today (Sunday).

The hurricane "Sidr" affected 20 districts, including 12 worst affected, and some 27.44 lakh people. Besides, the severe storm destroyed 500,000 dwellings in the affected districts, except Jhalakati, Barguna and Madaripur.