Euro 5.0m more EC aid for Aila victims
Friday, 18 December 2009
FE Report
The European Commission (EC) has allocated a further five million euro (euro5 million) to continue the humanitarian assistance to the population of South Western Bangladesh - the Commission already allocated euro4 million earlier in the year.
In May 2009, Cyclone Aila struck Bangladesh and India with tidal waves of up to four metres and winds up to 90 km per hour; increasing the levels of the rivers, destroying many protective embankments and homes as well as causing extensive infrastructural damage.
Over 7 million people were affected by cyclone Aila; almost 5 million of those in Bangladesh. 150,000 people are still living in makeshift shelters in Satkhira and Khulna districts. The subsequent monsoon rains further exacerbated the plight of the population.
"Europe has been closely following the condition of the victims of Aila in the last months; for many this was their second cyclone within eighteen months - Sidr then Aila." said Jean-Jacques Lauture, Charge d'Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh. "It is important to boost humanitarian assistance for those still living in hardship and help them rebuild their lives in the aftermath of this catastrophe," Jean-Jacques Lauture added.
While cyclone Sidr was more ferocious, Aila has left more devastation due to the heavy monsoon rains which raised the river levels and submerged agricultural lands and shrimp farms. The tidal waves made lands and water sources saline and it could take years to recover.
The humanitarian funds will primarily focus on assisting the most vulnerable population in Bangladesh with food, drinking water, access to sanitation, provision of shelter and helping them regain their income generating activities such as fishing, agriculture and small livestock.
All funds are channeled through the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) that works with international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), specialised United Nation's (UN) agencies and the Red Cross / Crescent movement. ECHO has been active in Bangladesh for many years, helping the cyclone-affected populations (Sidr, Biji and Aila) as well as working with communities to build their resilience to ever frequent and more intense catastrophes.
The European Commission (EC) has allocated a further five million euro (euro5 million) to continue the humanitarian assistance to the population of South Western Bangladesh - the Commission already allocated euro4 million earlier in the year.
In May 2009, Cyclone Aila struck Bangladesh and India with tidal waves of up to four metres and winds up to 90 km per hour; increasing the levels of the rivers, destroying many protective embankments and homes as well as causing extensive infrastructural damage.
Over 7 million people were affected by cyclone Aila; almost 5 million of those in Bangladesh. 150,000 people are still living in makeshift shelters in Satkhira and Khulna districts. The subsequent monsoon rains further exacerbated the plight of the population.
"Europe has been closely following the condition of the victims of Aila in the last months; for many this was their second cyclone within eighteen months - Sidr then Aila." said Jean-Jacques Lauture, Charge d'Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh. "It is important to boost humanitarian assistance for those still living in hardship and help them rebuild their lives in the aftermath of this catastrophe," Jean-Jacques Lauture added.
While cyclone Sidr was more ferocious, Aila has left more devastation due to the heavy monsoon rains which raised the river levels and submerged agricultural lands and shrimp farms. The tidal waves made lands and water sources saline and it could take years to recover.
The humanitarian funds will primarily focus on assisting the most vulnerable population in Bangladesh with food, drinking water, access to sanitation, provision of shelter and helping them regain their income generating activities such as fishing, agriculture and small livestock.
All funds are channeled through the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) that works with international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), specialised United Nation's (UN) agencies and the Red Cross / Crescent movement. ECHO has been active in Bangladesh for many years, helping the cyclone-affected populations (Sidr, Biji and Aila) as well as working with communities to build their resilience to ever frequent and more intense catastrophes.