|
|
|
|
| Floods 2004 |
|
|
|
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday sought international assistance for post-flood rehabilitation . Her call came while visiting the flood-affected areas of Chandpur and Brahmanbaria districts, according to the BSS. The prime minister said the current floods have damaged property and infrastructures worth thousands of crores of taka and it may not be possible for the government alone to recoup the losses. Therefore, we need international assistance for rebuilding the infrastructure and homesteads and for agricultural rehabilitation, she said. In response, the United Nations (UN) yesterday announced that it would launch an appeal for relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit people. The announcement said that the UN, in consultation with the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, would embank on preparations for an international appeal, which will be launched within the coming weeks. The United Nations agencies in Bangladesh under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator have activated the UN Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) to assess the impact of the floods. And the government is also assessing the damages. "Both assessments are nearing completion and will be used to develop the international appeal for funding to meet the relief, recovery and longer-term rehabilitation needs of the estimated 28 to 30 million people affected by a severe flood," says the UN release. The flooding began earlier this month and had already caused extensive damage to basic infrastructures like roads, bridges, railways, embankment, farmland, property and livelihoods in an estimated 35 districts of Bangla-desh. "People have been marooned or displaced seeking shelter in public buildings, road embankments, roadways, rooftops and available high-ground areas," the UN noted. The government has been proving relief, food and medical supplies to the affected people. However, the situation is "deteriorating". Therefore, to support the government's relief and recovery efforts, "the UN will launch the international appeal to bolster exiting capacities". As part of the immediate UN response, the release said, the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), the World Food Progra-mme (WFP) and the World Health Organisation (Who) have provided emergency supplies like food, medical supplies, non-food items and support to improve water and sanitation. The UN's office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has dispatched a team, currently in Dhaka, to support the needs assessment, look at UN contingency planing and coordinate the ongoing UN response. In Chandpur, the prime minister urged the people to face this calamity with courage. Khaleda said the government is distributing adequate relief and steps have been taken to help the affected people to cope with the situation. "You are not alone, friendless and helpless in this hour of crisis. The government is with you, the BNP is with you", she boosted the morale of the affected people while addressing them at Babubazar under Sadar upazila of Chandpur. The prime minister then went to the flood affected Brahmanbaria and distributed relief among the affected people.
|
|
|
|
|
| ©
Copyright and Fair Use . SDNP Bangladesh holds
the © copyright to its publications and web pages but |
