Dhaka, Nov 24 (Agencies): The UN increased its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocation to $14.7 million to pay for international relief aid for the cyclone hit victims in Bangladesh. This brings the total UN aid to about $35 million, which is likely to increase over the next few weeks, a UN statement said Friday night.
‘This funding will enable UN to provide drinking water, equipment and other vital assistance for communities at risk from water-borne diseases,’ said Renata Lok Dessallien, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh.
Dessallien also said the UN’s initial rapid assessment mission surveyed damages and needs in nine districts badly affected by the cyclone and made a set of recommendations to deal with the post-cyclone situation.
The recommendations include immediate food assistance for more than two million victims, drinking water supplies for an estimated 1.2 million people, emergency shelter, construction of damaged homes, medical assistance, disease prevention and livelihood regeneration.
The UN said in the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Sidr, Unicef, UNDP, WFP and WHO quickly responded to the government’s relief efforts.
‘The WFP is working closely with the Bangladesh Armed Forces to ensure the supply of ready-to-eat foods to the affected people,’ said Douglas Broderick, WFP country representative.
He said in addition to high-energy biscuits, which are being dropped from the military helicopters, about 750 tonnes of rice are also being sent by road and boats to the five worst affected districts.
The killer cyclone left more than 3,000 dead, nearly 2,000 missing and millions homeless
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