The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Denmark, the co-chair of the Global Facility for Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction (GFDDR), appealed to the donor groups to support Bangladesh for an accelerated recovery from the risk of cyclone disaster.

The Denmark government pledged 10 million Danish Kroner, about US$2 million, to the GFDDR to help Bangladesh recover from cyclone SIDR.

Copenhagen will donate another one million dollars to Actionaid for projects aimed at strengthening the disaster preparedness locally.

Ulla Tornaes, Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, disclosed this at a press conference and called for a coordinated, long-term international recovery strategy for Bangladesh during a visit to the country.

The Danish Minister arrived in the capital on December 2 to visit cyclone SIDR affected areas.

She said, "I am pleased to see that the people of Bangladesh have already started reconstruction work. It is a great challenge that needs international support."

The press conference was held at Danish Embassy in the city jointly organised by the World Bank and Denmark Embassy.

Zhu Xian, the World Bank's Country Director, Einar Hebogaard Jensen, Danish Ambassador, among others, were present on the occasion.

Ulla Tornaes said, "We hope that this contribution will help the government leverage additional financing for long-term recovery efforts to further strengthening the country's resilience and disaster preparedness, rebuild people's lives, and bridge the gap between humanitarian relief and long-term reconstruction."

She said the damage done by the cyclone SIDR stresses the need for integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into development cooperation.

She warned of the impact on climate change in Bangladesh and said, "Bangladesh is very vulnerable to the climate change. Not only comes flooding from the sea, but also from the great rivers of the Himalayas."

Tornaes, who visited some worst hit areas in Patharghata in Barguna to see the consequences of the cyclone SIDR, urged the Government to invest in roads, schools, water and agriculture to an even higher degree by taking preparedness measures into account.The Danish Minister said, "Climate Change and Natural Risk Reduction are linked together and should be addressed in a common context."

She said Denmark in 2008 would update the Danish strategy for humanitarian assistance envisaging climate-proof strategy and enhanced assistance to disaster prepared in developing countries.

The Danish contribution to GFDRR complements other donor efforts, including the World Bank's recently announced $250 million support package to Bangladesh, World Bank Country Director Zhu Xian mentioned.

Zhu Xian said, "Increasingly the international community is focusing on prevention and long term risk reduction, not just reconstruction."

"GFDRR involvement after disasters helps ensure that the focus is not solely on the immediate needs of repairing individual homes and social infrastructure, but no longer term recovery and preparedness," he said.

Xian mentioned that Bangladesh has suffered from floods and a cyclone this year, as well as high international oil and food prices. "This creates an immediate need for support from the international community," he said.

The GFDRR has already provided $300,000 to Bangladesh for disaster preparedness and a comprehensive disaster risk management programme has been launched in the South Asia to increase disaster resilience. The programme will support the development of a regional strategy to mange risk, share knowledge and provide training and capacity building. Other countries participating in the GFDRR include Australia, Denmark, the European Commission, Italy, Japan, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Therefore, Canada, Finland, France and Germany are expected to join soon.