EC pledges to help overcome post-Sidr food deficit in Mar
Thursday, 29 November 2007
The Head of the Delegation of the European Commission (EC), Ambassador Dr Stefan Frowein, assured Bangladesh Wednesday of cooperation in overcoming any possible food deficit in March next due to the cyclone 'Sidr', which cut a swathe through standing crops in the coastal districts, reports UNB.
"It might be a real difficulty in March next year, but we'll try to help so Bangladesh does not face any big trouble due to shortage of food," he said during a meeting with the members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB) at a city hotel.
Referring to the government's appeal to international donors for food aid to the tune of 500 thousand (5 lakh) tonnes, he said presently the government has a stock of 761 thousand tonnes, a portion of which is being used for the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) and other programmes.
To build a food stock of 1.0 million (10 lakh) tonnes until March next, he said the government needs to replete the stock through purchase and aid.
Referring to his meeting with the WFP representative in the city earlier in the morning, Frowein said since there is a problem in procurement of such a huge quantity of food from outside market, the UN food agency could be given the charge and money to procure it.
He said the European Union (EU) has committed and spent $ 13 million on the occasions of two floods and the cyclone since August this year. A delegation from the EU will be coming here on a two-week mission to assess the cyclone damages and the post-cyclone rehabilitation needs.
The ambassador said the international response to the needs of the cyclone victims is encouraging, as $ 200 million dollars have so far been committed by donors, including $ 100 million by Saudi Arabia.
Asked about the appeal for channeling donors' aid and assistance through Bangladesh government, the envoy said it is easy for the European Union to disburse the money through its privileged international NGOs who have local partners and work in close cooperation with the government.
Asked whether Bangladesh should be compensated for this cyclone from those developed nations responsible for climate change, he said scientifically there may not be a direct link between the climate change and the cyclone 'Sidr.'
However, he hastened to add that global warming is causing rise in the sea level, of which Bangladesh and the Maldives would be the first victims in Asia.
The ambassador said the EU would ensure Bangladesh's participation in all discussions on climate change and its impacts. "We will ensure Bangladesh's problem is heard at all international seminars on climate change and its effect."
In reply to a question on lifting the state of emergency to allow the press function freely, Frowein said, " We are not feeling fine with the state of emergency but it is a decision to be taken by the government and the people."
"It might be a real difficulty in March next year, but we'll try to help so Bangladesh does not face any big trouble due to shortage of food," he said during a meeting with the members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB) at a city hotel.
Referring to the government's appeal to international donors for food aid to the tune of 500 thousand (5 lakh) tonnes, he said presently the government has a stock of 761 thousand tonnes, a portion of which is being used for the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) and other programmes.
To build a food stock of 1.0 million (10 lakh) tonnes until March next, he said the government needs to replete the stock through purchase and aid.
Referring to his meeting with the WFP representative in the city earlier in the morning, Frowein said since there is a problem in procurement of such a huge quantity of food from outside market, the UN food agency could be given the charge and money to procure it.
He said the European Union (EU) has committed and spent $ 13 million on the occasions of two floods and the cyclone since August this year. A delegation from the EU will be coming here on a two-week mission to assess the cyclone damages and the post-cyclone rehabilitation needs.
The ambassador said the international response to the needs of the cyclone victims is encouraging, as $ 200 million dollars have so far been committed by donors, including $ 100 million by Saudi Arabia.
Asked about the appeal for channeling donors' aid and assistance through Bangladesh government, the envoy said it is easy for the European Union to disburse the money through its privileged international NGOs who have local partners and work in close cooperation with the government.
Asked whether Bangladesh should be compensated for this cyclone from those developed nations responsible for climate change, he said scientifically there may not be a direct link between the climate change and the cyclone 'Sidr.'
However, he hastened to add that global warming is causing rise in the sea level, of which Bangladesh and the Maldives would be the first victims in Asia.
The ambassador said the EU would ensure Bangladesh's participation in all discussions on climate change and its impacts. "We will ensure Bangladesh's problem is heard at all international seminars on climate change and its effect."
In reply to a question on lifting the state of emergency to allow the press function freely, Frowein said, " We are not feeling fine with the state of emergency but it is a decision to be taken by the government and the people."