Bangladesh seeks international assistance for cyclone victims

Dhaka, Nov 19: Bangladesh today made international request to assist the cyclone victims and post-cyclone rehabilitation as official count so far put the death figure at 2,407.

''It is our view that our friends will come forward to assist us at this hour of our need,'' Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said in a statement to the press.

He said, ''We are doing everything we can ourselves, but the magnitude of the calamity has been just too great.'' Donor countries and agencies have pledged 25 million dollars till yesterday as emergecny aid for the cyclone victims.

Earlier today, a spokesman from the Foreign Ministry said this year Bangladesh had been subjected to a series of severe natural disasters. Cyclone SIDR, the most devastating storm, came in the wake of two rounds of massive floods.

The government had undertaken all necessary measures to remain prepared in every possible way. Despite these steps, the spokesman said, appalling damages have occurred of which assessment was still going on.

''While the resilient people of Bangladesh and the government are making every effort to cope with the adversities, at this time we will welcome support from the international community as before through the government, to help mitigate the effects of the disasters,'' he added

UNI