Bangladesh cyclone toll shoots to 1860 according to official sourc

Dhaka, Nov 18 (UNI) The death toll rose to 1860 in the super cyclone SIDR that battered Bangladesh's 27 districts mostly in south and southwestern region even as choppers, gunboats and naval ships continued rescue and relief operations, officials said.

Though the Food and Disaster Management Ministry put the casualty figure at 1860, local media reports claim the figure has already crossed two thousand.

A Ministry release saidmore than 27,0000 people were affected by the storm that completely damaged standing crops on an area of 18,122 acres and partially on 6,95,102 acres.

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has appealed for an aid of four million francs to International Red Cross for relief and rehabilitation in the cyclone-hit districts.

UN organisations, Red Crescent, NGOs and volunteer organisations are distributing relief materials like clothes, dry food, medicine, water purifying tablets and tents among the people.

A UN release said as the scope of damage is ascertained, more UN assistance will be offered. A team from UN-OCHA arrived today to assess the extent of destruction.

Some 42,000 red crescent volunteers are working in the affected areas.

Germany has announced 5,00,000 euro as immediate assistance for the cyclone victims.

The Bangladesh government has also been distributing relief materials, house building and agriculture loans to recoup the situation.

UNI