Saudi Arabia sends relief worth 50 million dollars to Bangladesh

Dhaka, Aug 13 (UNI) Saudi Arabia has sent a fleet of five cargo planes loaded with foodstuff, medicine and other humanitarian assistance worth 50 million dollar for flood-stricken Bangladesh at the instruction of King Abdullah.

The first consignment of the succour is now on the way to Dhaka and will reach Zia International Airport tonight, while the rest will be reaching here over the next ten days, the Saudi Ambassador in Bangladesh said.

Saudi Arabian Ambassador Abdullah Al-Obaid Al-Namia apprised reporters of the planeloads of emergency relief supplies from his country after a meeting with Foreign Advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury.

This is by far the largest relief aid from any single country for the Bangladeshi flood victims during this year's flooding calamity, which took a toll on over 350 people and huge crops and property.

Thousands of people have been afflicted with water-borne diseases, while around ten million affected by the floods.

An 11-member relief team from Saudi government has arrived here to coordinate the distribution of relief material in cooperation with the Food and Disaster management Ministry.

King Abdullah on Thursday ordered the Ministry of Finance to provide immediate assistance amounting to 50 million dollars for the flood victims in Bangladesh.

''Being a custodian of two holy mosques, King Abdullah personally feels the necessity of Bangladeshi brethren at this hour and ordered to send the relief goods and humanitarian assistance on an emergency basis,'' the Ambassador said.

He said the Saudi government would do whatever it could to help the Bangladeshi flood victims.

The Ambassador also indicated that if required by the Bangladesh government, the assistance might go beyond the 50 million dollar mark. He said King Abdullah, as the leader of the Muslim world, stands beside the Muslim ummah whenever they face such disaster.

Foreign Advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said Bangladesh is pleased that the Saudi King stood beside his distressed brothers and sisters in Bangladesh. ''We are very happy the way the Saudi King stood beside us as he did in Palestine, Pakistan, Indonesia and other Muslim countries,'' he said.

UNI