Cyclone death toll may cross 10,000
Monday, 19 November 2007
FE Report
As the death toll from the cyclonic storm jumped to 3000 Sunday, relief workers and rescuers scrambled hard to reach the SIDR-ravaged coastal areas, while donors continued to pledge multi- million dollars in emergency aid.
Civil and military officials responsible for tallying the number of deaths said the ultimate figure could top 10,000 and the extent of damage to property, crops and livestocks might cross US$ 1.0 billion.
"The cyclone was so powerful that it battered the whole southwestern coastline. As a result, it is difficult for us to say how many people have been dead and affected.'' director general of the Disaster Management Bureau Masood Siddiqui told reporters.
The Food and Disaster Management Ministry put Sunday the death toll at 2542 until 8:00 pm from the hurricane SIDR.
The caretaker government, apparently buffeted by two natural disasters in the shortest span of time, has partnered with the international agencies in the rescue mission following the tropical cyclone, deploying military helicopters, naval ships and thousands of troops.
Sensing the exigency facing Bangladesh, the major donors have come forward to support the interim administration in its efforts to provide aid for an estimated 3.2 million cyclone victims in Khulna-Barisal regions.
"It's certainly a massive relief operation as our armed forces members and air forces are in the field, sending food and medicine to affected areas,'' Siddiqui noted.
As of Sunday, the official death toll from the tropical storm included 15 in Khulna, 16 in Satkhira, 669 in Bagerhat, 85 in Barisal, 35 in Jhalakathi, 285 in Pirojpur, 417 in Barguna, 330 in Patuakhali, 29 in Gopalganj, and 38 in Madaripur.
A release of the disaster management ministry said that some 109 upazilas of 27 districts were affected by the storm. Around 27, 44,081 people of 8,44,756 families of some 780 unions of those upazilas have been leading miserable life as the storms rendered most of them homeless.
The release noted that the storm damaged a total of 2,73,233 houses completely, while 6,95,102 houses partially.
Standing crops on some 18,122 acres of land were completely damaged during the catastrophic storm while it damaged crops on around 5,00,358 acres of land partially.
Some 2,42,355 domestic animals and poultry birds perished during the cyclone, the sources said.
Besides, a total of 50 educational institutions were destroyed completely by the storms while the partial damage was done to 3,407 institutions.
Aid agency officials overseeing the relief operations said tens of thousands of survivors are waiting for immediate food and medical assistance.
Rescuers are trying to clear roads and get their vehicles through, but many found the blockages impassable.
Meanwhile, the country's development partners have pledged to extend aid to the SIDR-affected coastal people.
Talking to newsmen after a meeting with donor representatives, acting secretary of Food and Disaster Management Ministry M Ayub Miah said the donors are increasingly coming up with aid commitments, given the magnitude of the devastation.
The disaster management ministry convened a meeting with 42 development organisations and UN bodies at the ministry's conference room.
Among the donor agencies, Miah said, the UNDP would provide US$ 7 million while World Food Programme (WFP) allocated 10,000 metric tonnes of rice and 200 tonnes of high protein biscuits.
Other monetary commitments include US$ 5.3 million by UNICEF, US$ 5.0 million by the UK's Department for International Development, US$ 2.1 million and 35 tonnes of rice by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), 4.0 million pound sterling by Islamic Relief-UK and 5,000 Euro by Spain.
The WFP has already started distributing 78 metric tonnes of high protein biscuits while the UNDP is providing water purification tablets.
Some other organisations, including the Canadian government, would provide assistance after assessing the extent of damage caused by the cyclone, said the Disaster Management secretary.
Aid and voluntary agencies are lobbying hard with the world's wealthy nations and individuals to commit enhanced aid, enabling aid workers to stand by the SIDR-survivors.
The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), the local chapter of the global voluntary group, appealed Sunday through its Geneva-based headquarters to the international community to provide at least Tk 400 million in initial assistance for the cyclone victims.
The BDRCS plans to make the final appeal by Friday following the primary assessment of damage wrought by the mighty cyclone.
"We expect to get a positive response to our appeal within a couple of days," BDRCS chairman M Abdur Rob told a press conference in the city.
Rob insisted that there was a possibility that death toll from the cyclone will exceed 10,000, given the extent of damage as well as his past experiences and reports.
As the death toll from the cyclonic storm jumped to 3000 Sunday, relief workers and rescuers scrambled hard to reach the SIDR-ravaged coastal areas, while donors continued to pledge multi- million dollars in emergency aid.
Civil and military officials responsible for tallying the number of deaths said the ultimate figure could top 10,000 and the extent of damage to property, crops and livestocks might cross US$ 1.0 billion.
"The cyclone was so powerful that it battered the whole southwestern coastline. As a result, it is difficult for us to say how many people have been dead and affected.'' director general of the Disaster Management Bureau Masood Siddiqui told reporters.
The Food and Disaster Management Ministry put Sunday the death toll at 2542 until 8:00 pm from the hurricane SIDR.
The caretaker government, apparently buffeted by two natural disasters in the shortest span of time, has partnered with the international agencies in the rescue mission following the tropical cyclone, deploying military helicopters, naval ships and thousands of troops.
Sensing the exigency facing Bangladesh, the major donors have come forward to support the interim administration in its efforts to provide aid for an estimated 3.2 million cyclone victims in Khulna-Barisal regions.
"It's certainly a massive relief operation as our armed forces members and air forces are in the field, sending food and medicine to affected areas,'' Siddiqui noted.
As of Sunday, the official death toll from the tropical storm included 15 in Khulna, 16 in Satkhira, 669 in Bagerhat, 85 in Barisal, 35 in Jhalakathi, 285 in Pirojpur, 417 in Barguna, 330 in Patuakhali, 29 in Gopalganj, and 38 in Madaripur.
A release of the disaster management ministry said that some 109 upazilas of 27 districts were affected by the storm. Around 27, 44,081 people of 8,44,756 families of some 780 unions of those upazilas have been leading miserable life as the storms rendered most of them homeless.
The release noted that the storm damaged a total of 2,73,233 houses completely, while 6,95,102 houses partially.
Standing crops on some 18,122 acres of land were completely damaged during the catastrophic storm while it damaged crops on around 5,00,358 acres of land partially.
Some 2,42,355 domestic animals and poultry birds perished during the cyclone, the sources said.
Besides, a total of 50 educational institutions were destroyed completely by the storms while the partial damage was done to 3,407 institutions.
Aid agency officials overseeing the relief operations said tens of thousands of survivors are waiting for immediate food and medical assistance.
Rescuers are trying to clear roads and get their vehicles through, but many found the blockages impassable.
Meanwhile, the country's development partners have pledged to extend aid to the SIDR-affected coastal people.
Talking to newsmen after a meeting with donor representatives, acting secretary of Food and Disaster Management Ministry M Ayub Miah said the donors are increasingly coming up with aid commitments, given the magnitude of the devastation.
The disaster management ministry convened a meeting with 42 development organisations and UN bodies at the ministry's conference room.
Among the donor agencies, Miah said, the UNDP would provide US$ 7 million while World Food Programme (WFP) allocated 10,000 metric tonnes of rice and 200 tonnes of high protein biscuits.
Other monetary commitments include US$ 5.3 million by UNICEF, US$ 5.0 million by the UK's Department for International Development, US$ 2.1 million and 35 tonnes of rice by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), 4.0 million pound sterling by Islamic Relief-UK and 5,000 Euro by Spain.
The WFP has already started distributing 78 metric tonnes of high protein biscuits while the UNDP is providing water purification tablets.
Some other organisations, including the Canadian government, would provide assistance after assessing the extent of damage caused by the cyclone, said the Disaster Management secretary.
Aid and voluntary agencies are lobbying hard with the world's wealthy nations and individuals to commit enhanced aid, enabling aid workers to stand by the SIDR-survivors.
The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), the local chapter of the global voluntary group, appealed Sunday through its Geneva-based headquarters to the international community to provide at least Tk 400 million in initial assistance for the cyclone victims.
The BDRCS plans to make the final appeal by Friday following the primary assessment of damage wrought by the mighty cyclone.
"We expect to get a positive response to our appeal within a couple of days," BDRCS chairman M Abdur Rob told a press conference in the city.
Rob insisted that there was a possibility that death toll from the cyclone will exceed 10,000, given the extent of damage as well as his past experiences and reports.