The government of Bangladesh sought US$2.21 billion worth of assistance from international donors to finance post-cyclone rehabilitation schemes and sustainable disaster protection program in the affected coastal areas.
The government requested the development partners to provide $400 million as budgetary support, $457.76 million for immediate rehabilitation of the Sidr-affected areas and $1351.09 million for sustainable protection against such kind of catastrophe.
Planning secretary Jafor Ahmed Chowdhury put fund requirement for the post-Sidor rehabilitation and sustainable disaster protection at $1808.87 million and finance secretary Mohammad Tareque sought $400 million fund as budgetary support.
Secretary of Economic relations division (ERD) Aminul Islam Bhuiyan told reporters after a meeting with local consultative group (LCG), a representing the bilateral and multilateral donors working in Bangladesh, Under the short-term and mid-term program, the government put forward its requirement of $457.76 million fund for restoration of the infrastructure in the Sidr-hit areas. “Besides, another $1351.09 million is necessary for a development program aiming to make sustainable protection against such catastrophe. Some long-term development programs like forestation in the Sundarbans and in the coastal belt, construction of new cyclone-shelter and well-protected schools and colleges will be implemented with the fund," he said.
He, however, said based on the government’s damage assessment and fund requirement, the donor community will ascertain the extent of damage and losses caused by the recent cyclone in the coastal belt and then they will provide necessary support to the government.
According to governments statistics, cyclone sidor smashed crops of 7,24,826 acre land. Another 17, 30, 116 acre is partly effected. Cyclone also cracked about 1.6 millions houses of which 0.60 millions are totally destroyed. Seventeen thousand of educational institutions have broken down. Sidor damaged Eight thousand kilometers of road, 1687 bridges or culverts and 1875 dames. About 50 millions trees are broken down.
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