The New Nation - Internet Edition

International aid is pouring into Bangladesh in the wake of Thursday’s deadly cyclone Sidr that has left thousands dead and millions homeless in south-western districts of the country.

Since millions of survivors are now in dire need of food, water, medicine and shelter in the affected districts, many foreign countries and international humanitarian organizations have started responding to the needs of cyclone affected people.

Expressing profound shock at the huge losses of life and property, the United Nations, United States, Japan, European Union, Saudi Arabia, Italy, China, India, Germany and Switzerland announced emergency assistance for Bangladesh.

The Saudi government has announced a grant of US$ 100 million in relief assistance for Bangladesh’s cyclone victims.

The Saudi government has also decided to send 300 tons of food and

relief materials to Bangladesh by the middle of the next week.

Saudi Ambassador Abdullah Al Obaid Al Namla informed Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury of the grant and relief assistance announced by Saudi King Abdullah.

The Saudi envoy informed the Foreign Adviser that the Saudi King had expressed his willingness to build an “air-bridge” of relief with

Bangladesh.

Dr Iftekhar conveyed profound gratitude on behalf of the government for the assistance during at this difficult time of Bangladesh.

He also recalled the aid of US$50 million earlier the Saudi King

provided to Bangladesh in the wake of floods.

The European Union has pledges 6.5 million euros in aid to Bangladesh cyclone victims.

The EU yesterday pledged an additional 5 million euros (7.33 million dollars) in emergency aid to help the victims of Bangladesh's cyclone. The proposed new emergency funding comes on top of 1.5 million euros in fast-track aid allocated on Friday, bringing total contributions by the EU's executive, the Commission, to 6.5 million, officials in Brussels said.

The money would be used to meet vital needs for water, food, shelter and household items such as soap and cooking utensils, officials said.

In announcing the move, EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, spoke of the "shocking pictures" that had emerged from the coastal regions of Bangladesh.

Michel said "the enormous damage to infrastructure, coupled with losses of both crops and livestock," mean "urgent action is also needed on basic rehabilitation. Otherwise, disease and malnutrition could claim many more victims."

Some 3.3 million people have been affected by last week's cyclone, with 300,000 houses destroyed and twice as many severely damaged.

The Bangladesh Red Crescent (Cross) fears the number of deaths from cyclone Sidr could climb to 10,000.

USAID will provide additional US$2 million disaster relief for Bangladesh.

According to a message received from Washington yesterday, the USAID is sending an additional $2 million in emergency funds to assist relief efforts in Bangladesh.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies will receive $1 million of this new funding for water and sanitation programs and to provide shelter materials to those in need. The remainder of the funding will be directed to humanitarian organisations currently working in the affected area and will assist in meeting the immediate needs of the Bangladeshi people.

This new funding is in addition to the initial $100,000 provided by USAID immediately after the cyclone, bringing the total US government assistance to $2.1 million to date. .

The US extends its deepest sympathies to the government and people of Bangladesh in the face of this major natural disaster and stands ready to further assist in the relief effort based on needs identified in the coming days.

India has decided to respond immediately with a comprehensive relief package of US$ 1 million for cyclone affected people of Bangladesh, Indian Parliament was informed yesterday.

As part of the offer, India will despatch relief material including medicines, food items, milk powder, tents and blankets, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement in both Houses of Parliament.

President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have written to their Bangladeshi counterparts expressing distress over the tragedy and conveying deep condolences over the loss of lives, he said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said the House expresses its deep sense of sorrow over the loss of lives and property in the calamity. The House stood in silence for a brief while in memory of those killed.

India is also waiving the export ban on rice to enable Bangladesh to procure 50,000 tons of rice from India.

Japan has announced to provided emergency relief goods worth US$ 390,000 (35 million yen) through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for Bangladesh’s cyclone victims.

'The first consignment of the emergency aid arrives at Zia International Airport at 12:00 noon today from Singapore,’ Japanese Ambassador Masayuki Inoue told reporters after meeting with Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.

The emergency relief goods include 100 tents (each for 6 people), 1000 blankets (regular), 100 blankets (heavy), 300 sleeping pads, 200

plastic sheets, 10 portable water tanks (2000 liter), 30 water

purifiers, 300 portable water tanks and 30 power generators (220V).

Ambassador Masayuki Inoue and JICA Resident Representative Ms Nobuko Kayashima will handover the emergency relief to high officials of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management at the airport.

The Chinese government has decided to provide US$ 1 million of emergency assistance for the relief and rehabilitation activities for the cyclone victims of Bangladesh.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Zheng Qingdian informed this when he met with the Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday.

The Red Cross Society of China will also provide US$ 50,000 to Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

The Australian government has announced it will provide Tk 180 million (A$3 million) for emergency relief and recovery efforts in communities affected by Cyclone Sidr.

Announcing the decision, the Australian High Commissioner,

Douglas Foskett, advised that, through its international aid agency, AusAID, Australia will contribute A$ 1 million each to Australian NGOs working in Bangladesh for relief assistance. The relief goods include safe water, sanitation facilities and non-food items such as clothes and blankets.

The assistance will also be channeled through the World Food Program (WFP) to meet immediate food needs and support recovery programs and International Federation of the Red Cross to support the Bangladesh Red Crescent Societies’ relief efforts, including basic health care and emergency sanitation.

The Swiss government and charities are sending immediate aid to the survivors of the cyclone in Bangladesh. The aid, valued at 850,000 Swiss francs (about 760,000 US dollars), will go in part to support efforts by the local Red Crescent Society to provide those in need with food packets, drinking water and medicine, according to the reports received from Geneva.

The Government of Switzerland has provided 200,000 Swiss Francs (US$ 160,000) in grants for relief materials for the cyclone-hit people of Bangladesh as an emergency response, a press release said.

The relief materials would be distributed through Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and Swiss Red Cross in five districts.

Swiss offer comes in response to an appeal by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society for 6 million US dollars for relief and reconstruction efforts in the cyclone-affected districts.

The local Red Crescent Society said the overall death toll from the cyclone could finally reach 10,000 as more bodies from Thursday's storm are being found.

Italy has decided to donate 100,000 Euro to Bangladesh Red Crescent Society responding to an emergency appeal of the International Red Cross, said an embassy release.

Further aid for reconstruction could be available if requested by the

Bangladesh government, it said.

Besides, Italian President Dr Giorgio Napolitano in a message to President Iajuddin Ahmed expressed condolence and deep shock at the calamity that befell Bangladesh. The message was conveyed by Italian Ambassador in Dhaka Pietro Ballero.

In another message, Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema also

expressed the condolence and solidarity of the Italian government to

the Bangladesh government.

German President Horst Kohler has expressed profound shock at the loss of lives and devastation caused by cyclone Sidr.

In a message to President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed President Kohler said,” I was shocked and grieved to learn of the many lives lost and injuries

caused by the recent hurricane particularly in the south-east of your

country. On behalf also of my compatriots I offer you my deepest

sympathy.”

He also conveyed condolences to all those who have lost loved ones.

Meanwhile, Islami Bank will distribute Tk 30 crore relief among cyclone victims.

The German government offered 731, 345 dollars, while the European Union released 2.2 million dollars in relief aid.

Concern Worldwide, Bangladesh, started relief operations for the cyclone victims in Patuakhali and Barguna district yesterday.

Concern is assisting 26,000 extremely poor families in these two

districts where over 250,000 families have been affected.

The relief package for each family includes rice-30kg, pluse-3kg,

oil-2 liter, salt-1kg, sugar- 1kg, semolina-1kg, ORS-5 sachets, soap-2pcs, blanket-1pcs, shawl-1pc, candle-6pcs, match-1 dozen and utensils-1 set.

Concern will receive more funds of Euro 580,000 from EC and Euro

100,000 from Concern General Donations.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Bangladesh Air Force yesterday started using helicopters to air-drop food to people stranded in inaccessible areas affected by last week's cyclone.

So far WFP has delivered biscuits to more than 650,000 people in the worst hit areas by land, air and boat.

Several international organisations and donors have also extended help to the devastated country.

The Rome-based World Food Program was rushing in food, and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society was sending thousands of workers to stricken areas.