The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The European Commission yesterday announced that it would provide 13 million euros (about US$19 million) to rebuild the quake-hit areas in Bangladesh, according to report received in Dhaka from its headquarters in Brussels.

Cyclone Sidr, which struck Bangladesh on November 15 last year, devastated the country in the aftermath.

The European Union (EU) said that it had already provided 20.4 million euros to Bangladesh for long-term reconstruction and development projects in the affected areas.

"We are providing the aid as a major donor to Bangladesh during the post-Sidr recovery period. The money would help the farming community to buy

seeds and equipment and would also create jobs in the quake-hit areas," Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations, disclosed, while talking to journalists at the European Commission (EC) headquarters in Brussels on Friday (yesterday).

Damages caused by the cyclone have inflicted losses worth more than 1.1 billion euros, equivalent to 2.8 percent of Bangladesh's GDP (Gross Domestic Product), on the country, the report added.