Cyclone Loss Much More Than Expected
"We request the international community to come in a big way in immediate food assistance as Bangladesh is food short now, in building at least another five hundred shelters and also building at least a few houses for poor people in every village in the most vulnerable areas of the coast which can also serve as shelter in such times." . Cyclone Loss Much More Than Expected. The devastating cyclone that hit Bangladesh on 16 th night of this month has left behind much more devastation than was initially estimated.Despite making of many shelters the death in the off-shore islands and sea shores has been very large The loss of cattle , crop and house property has been immense.As the housing is poor the stored food in the huts have also been lost.The entire population has to be fed now for the next four months till the new crop comes. In addition the houses have to be built again apart from rehabilitation of agriculture and communication. This would require massive fund.The government and the people would be doing maximum.Even then we expect the rich nations to stand by us. Donor nations and agencies have pledged over US$ 25 million in assistance to help Bangladesh meet the requirements rising in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr.This is nothing compared to the need. Mia Muhammad ,Ayub, secretary of the Food And Disaster Management Ministry, said that the donor nation and agency representatives will hold further talks with government representatives on Thursday to assess what steps are to be taken next. He said that a total of 42 representatives from different donor nations along with UN alliances attended the meeting yesterday. In addition to monetary help, they have also committed to provide rice, blanket, tent and other infrastructure items. We request the international community to come in a big way in immediate food assistance as Bangladesh is food short now, in building at least another five hundred shelters and also building at least a few houses for poor people in every village in the most vulnerable areas of the coast which can also serve as shelter in such times. .
