By IANS
Dhaka : India and Pakistan have started relief supplies even as the World Bank pledged a hefty $250 million aid to help cyclone-hit Bangladesh.
Two C-130 aircrafts carrying relief items from Pakistan landed at Zia International Airport Thursday while an Indian Air Force transport aircraft IL-76 carrying over 38 tonnes of relief materials and medical supplies is scheduled to reach Dhaka Friday.
Two more C-130 aircrafts will also arrive from Pakistan carrying facilities for a 30-bed field hospital. A ship carrying relief materials will also sail for Bangladesh shortly, the Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka announced.
Estimates vary about death and destruction caused by Cyclone Sidr which hit the nation on Nov 15, but economists have predicted a grim scenario as Bangladesh struggles to recover from the calamity, its third this year.
The country had been hit by a storm and mudslides during the monsoon, causing widespread destruction.
Relief has poured in especially after Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed, who is heading an interim government, Tuesday appealed to the world community for help, saying that Bangladesh was doing its best but the calamity was “too severe” for it to handle it alone.
Among the major donors, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) is mobilising $20 million in aid, while Canada will donate up to $3 million. Sweden will initially donate $1.1 million and another $1.6 million is expected shortly. Italy will add 400,000 euros to the donation of 100,000 euros declared earlier and Chevron Bangladesh will donate $100,000.
The World Bank (WB) is willing to make available up to $250 million to the Bangladesh government, depending on its financing needs and what other donors bring to the table, WB country director in Bangladesh, Xian Zhu said.