By IANS
Dhaka : The toll from Cyclone Sidr that devastated Bangladesh has been officially put at 2,300 and rising but could touch the 10,000 mark, the country’s Red Crescent Society has said.
“We have already identified 2,750 bodies. Based on our experience in the past and reports from the scene, I would suggest the death toll may be as high as 10,000,” M. Abdur Rob, chairman of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, told the media Sunday.
Reacting to the Red Crescent concern, which deployed around 42,000 volunteers in the coastal areas, Mohammad Aiyub Miah, acting secretary to the food and disaster management ministry said: “It is hard to guess what could be the possible number of causalities. But we can assure that we will instantly update all on the death toll, however grave it turned out to be.”
Shell-shocked survivors and rescuers picked through the cyclone ruins in the worst-hit southern districts Sunday as thousands of victims awaited relief amid their wrecked homes, crops, livestock and fields.
“They sobbed in agony, suffered in hunger, thirst and diarrhoea. They buried dear ones and searched in vain for the answer why fate conspired against them,” the Daily Star said.
Shortage of drinking water, rise in prices of essential commodities — both due to destruction and disruption in communications and spurt in water-borne diseases — are among the immediate challenges facing the government as it steps up rescue, relief and rehabilitation work.
They compound the existing problems caused by severe floods in many parts of the country during this year’s monsoon.
Even before the government made an appeal to the international community, donors have pledged $25 million in aid. Miah indicated that a fuller assessment would be available by the end of this week.
Echoing Red Crescent Society’s concerns, non-government organisations also urged the international community to stand by disaster-hit Bangladeshis. “These people are very poor and have lost everything. Their need will be very high, and we don’t believe the Bangladesh government can help all of them,” an international relief agency said.
The international community hailed the government’s disaster preparedness, which greatly helped reduce causalities as well as financial losses.
However, Juliet Parker of Christian Aid observed: “These preparedness saved lives but not livelihoods.”
At a meeting held here Sunday by the food and disaster management ministry, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) promised $7 million and $6.8 million financial grants respectively. The US has pledged $2.1 million, Britain has promised $5 million, and a Britain-based NGO has agreed to give $4 million. Spain has committed to provide 5,000 euros ($7,300).
Japan has decided to assist Bangladesh in three phases. In the first phase, within the next week, Japan will provide tents, blankets, and clothing for the cyclone-affected areas. It will also provide food assistance. In its third phase, Japan will work with the cyclone rehabilitation programme.
The World Food Program (WFP) will provide 40,000 metric tonnes of rice and 428 metric tonnes of high protein biscuits to cyclone victims immediately while the US will provide 35 metric tonnes of rice. The US army has also offered assistance to the Bangladesh army for rehabilitation efforts if required, media reports said.