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Download PDF The UK announced a new contribution of $4 million, while a US aircraft that had arrived at Zia International Airport (ZIA) with relief materials worth $290,000 on Tuesday, began transporting those to Barisal for distribution yesterday.
Responding to the urgent need for food in the cyclone affected south and south-western region of Bangladesh, Japan yesterday decided to provide 750 metric tons of rice worth $480,000, to be channelled through United Nations World Food Programme.
Chinese Ambassador Zheng Quingdian handed over a cheque of $1 million, and different types of seeds worth another $1 million to Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury in the latter’s office yesterday, while Switzerland promised an additional aid of $300,000.
Relief materials including medicines, medical equipment, and food items carried by two Pakistani naval ships to Chittagong, were also handed over to the Bangladesh authorities.
The US officials while visiting Zia yesterday said they have plans to build more cyclone shelters in the cyclone-prone southern districts and assured continuing the US assistance.
USAID Mission Director Denise Rollins told journalists at Zia that their plans of reconstruction are under process as there needs to be more shelters. “We are also looking at other means like embankments, early warning systems, and appropriate houses in the cyclone-prone areas,” she said.
On the possible food crisis feared by the government, Denise said, “The Government of Bangladesh rightly identified the issue. We had earlier declared 10 million dollars for food items and hope that other donors will also come forward in this regard.”
US Charge de’Affaires Geeta Pasi said the US is here as a friend to help Bangladesh in time of need and now is engaged in provisioning immediate assistance like water, food, and jerry cans.
Welcoming the US aid, Disaster Management Secretary Dr Ayub Miah said the friendly relation between the two nations will be strengthened through the help.
The latest US shipment comprises four water purification units, each able to fulfil the daily water requirement of 10,000 people, four 10,000 litre water storage units, 2,400 jerry cans, and 10,000 blankets.
The relief items being transported to Barisal will be first handed over to USAID partners — Save the Children, and World Vision – who will then distribute the materials to the affected people in Barguna, Patuakhali, and Pirojpur. The US has so far provided emergency funds, commodities, and transportation worth more than $14.4 million.
Announcing the latest UK contribution of $4 million equivalent to Tk 28 crore, UK Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander said unless emergency relief supplies get to the victims, it is all too likely that more people will die needlessly.
“The next challenge is to help people rebuild their homes and livelihoods. The UK support is meeting immediate and longer term needs as well. I continue to admire the resilience and determination of the Bangladeshi people as they face these challenges,” he said.
DFID Acting Head Sarah Sanyahumbi said the additional funding will give, people whose employment has been swept away, the chance to earn a living and get back on their feet.
“The UK will also supply 43,000 blankets for people made homeless, and 24,000 jerry cans for carrying clean water for those living in the affected parts of Bangladesh.”
Britain will also provide 1.5 lakh cyclone-affected families with cash and livestock.
The latest contribution raises the UK government’s overall support to $14 million equivalent to Tk 96 crore, in addition to providing clean water to 260,000 families, emergency supplies and food to 70,000 families, and rebuilding more than 16,000 homes, a media statement said.
The UK provided funds and relief materials are being distributed through various UN agencies, Save the Children UK, Oxfam, and CARE International — who are working with local NGOs.
The Pakistani naval ships — Shahjahan and Nasr — equipped with helicopters, a medical team, medicines, and medical equipment, will provide medical treatment and distribute medicines and 1000kg food among the cyclone victims, said a media statement of Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka.
The latest assistance of Pakistan is in addition to a 30-bed hospital established in Patuakhali and Barguna, providing healthcare services and food items earlier brought in by two Pakistani aircraft. Another shipload of food grains will be dispatched from Karachi for Chittagong shortly.
A news release of Switzerland Embassy in Dhaka said the latest $300,000 additional contribution of the country ‘includes’ one expert from Swiss government’s Humanitarian Aid Division who is expected to arrive shortly.
“The additional assistance will be used to provide food, clothes and temporary shelter materials to the cyclone-affected people in Khulna and Bagerhat districts. The relief materials will be distributed through two local NGOs — Rupantor and Asroy,” the release said. The total amount of Swiss assistance since the cyclone currently stands at $460,000.
News World, a New York based News agency, yesterday reported that the Bangladesh consulate there received over $200,000 in relief donation, while individuals and various organisations sent more than $200,000 to Bangladesh through Sonali Exchange.
Many Bangladeshi expatriates are also donating to the Chief Adiviser’s Relief Fund at the Bangladesh embassy in Washington and at the Bangladesh consulate in Los Angeles.
“We are really amazed at the way the Americans as well as Bangladeshi expatriates are coming forward with assistance,” Bangladesh Ambassador in Washington M Humayun Kabir told News World.
Expatriate Bangladeshis however expressed their disappointment over the silence of former US president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton on the issue of Bangladesh’s cyclone.
Two Japanese students — Ayako Ito and Yu Kato — of Japanese School in Dhaka accompanied by their principal, Osamu Nomura, donated an amount to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in his office for the cyclone victims. The donation was collected from the recycling activities of the Japanese School in Dhaka.
Japan already provided emergency relief goods worth $390,000, and emergency aid through WFP, UNICEF, and WHO worth $3.7 million.
Speaking at a roundtable with the media and Britain’s development arm DFID yesterday, British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury said his country is seriously looking into Bangladesh government’s request for 500 tonnes of rice.
“It is a big request. We are looking into it urgently because we need to act fast as it takes at least one month to buy the rice from overseas,” said Choudhury, adding that the government had requested donors to buy the rice outside the country to avoid distorting the local market.
Acting DFID head in Bangladesh Sarah Sunyahumbi, however, said, “We’d prefer to give people cash rather than food to ensure the entire household receives the relief rather than just someone who goes to get the food.”
The British high commissioner also said Britain will provide relief through both government and NGOs to find the most effective channel to provide relief.
As of yesterday, Britain has donated $14 million in relief aid to Sidr victims.
Choudhury said Britain will provide emergency livelihood support through cash and livestock to 1.5 lakh families while another 50,000 worst affected families will receive livelihood support in crops, fishing and shrimp farming.
He added that different British companies have also stepped forward to help Sidr victims, with British Telecom offering to fix any telephone problems around the devastated southwest region.
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