BD wants $1149 m from donors for disaster management

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Sunday sought US$ 1149 million in assistance from international donors for a long-term solution to natural disaster as recurrent cyclones accompanied with tidal surge of brackish water from the bay exposed the country's vulnerability to perilous climate change.
The call for help came as millions of people of the coastal areas affected by the latest cyclone codenamed 'Aila' in May this year still remained in plight, losing their homes, crops and cattle, fish farms and other means of livelihood.
Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr Abdur Razzak said the request for the amount of the funds was placed at a meeting between the government and the representatives of foreign missions in Dhaka and international donor agencies at his ministry office in the secretariat.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni was also present at the meeting, convened after the government framed a five-year plan for providing durable remedies against the perennial natural disaster.
Dr Razzak told reporters that the donor agencies and the countries assured of their all-out cooperation in mobilizing this monetary assistance, albeit making some observations about lapses in aid utilization in the past.
"They will decide after consulting the respective countries on the assistance needed under the long-term plan by the government," he said.
The minister quoted the donors as saying that Bangladesh needs much more inter-ministerial coordination to properly utilize the assistance. They also emphasized regional cooperation in addressing the problems being caused by natural calamity, as the country is facing storms, surges, salinity, floods and droughts-all mainly blamed on climate change due to global warming.
Dr Razzaque said the donors also brought allegation that the assistance provided by them was not properly utilized after the super-cyclone 'Sidr' ravaged the coastal areas of Bangladesh, including the mangrove forests of Sunderbans.
He, however, assured the donors of properly utilizing the funds this time around as the new government seeks lasting solutions, including shielding the coast with permanent dams.
Under the five-year-long scheme, the government sought US $ 12 million for funding support for the people displaced by the Aila, which is expected to be implemented within six months.
Besides, US $ 535 million is estimated for building cluster houses for landless people, US $ 381 million for reconstruction of houses, US $ 62 million for rebuilding embankments, US $ 56 million for restoration of livelihoods, US $ 200 million for construction of cyclone shelters (2,000 centers in coastal areas), and US $ 3 million for restoration of the battered water-supply system.
Apart from this, the government has had a midterm plan, but government itself will bear the cost estimated around US $ 12.03 million, the minister informed.
Talking to the reporters, Dr Dipu Moni said, "The donors emphasized the need of our internal coordination. They said there should be inter-ministerial coordination among us so that the assistance could be properly utilized."
The Foreign Minister, quoting the donors, said as Bangladesh has been one of the vastly affected countries due to climate change, so the country has the moral rights to seek assistance for disaster management.