After finalising a comprehensive plan to overcome impacts of the devastating flood, the United Nations will seek help for Bangladesh to the world community so that the country can recover from massive damages. The two-hour long closed-door meeting of the United Nations with the local representatives of donors at IDB Bhaban on Wednesday ended without making any assessment of damages caused by the recent flood or any promise of financial assistance to recoup the ravages inflicted on country’s overall economy.
The meeting chaired by the acting UN Resident Coordinator Douglas C Coutts alerted the donors about the extensity of challenges Bangladesh is going to face in the post-flood period. Coutts told newsmen after coming out of the meeting room that though the UN assessment of damages is going on, it will require additional assistance to get back on its feet.
In primary observation, both the donors’ representatives and the UN officials were of the opinion that Bangladesh would require a year to overcome the damages caused during recent deluge.
The meeting gave five UN organisations the responsibility of assessing sector wise flood damages in the recent flood. Assessment in Health and Nutrition sector was given to WHO, Water, Sanitation and Education to UNICEF, Food and Agriculture to WFP and Shelter, non-food relief and economic recovery jointly to UNDP and ILO. The UNICEF has already disclosed that damages in water and sanitation sector is about 14.5 million US dollar.
Douglas C Coutts said that about one crore people will face severe food scarcity, waterborne diseases and poor output in crop production in the coming months.
On the other hand, Food and Disaster Management Secretary Siddiqur Rahman, present at the meeting said that on completion of assessment of flood damages by the respective ministries, the government will submit its final assessment report to the UN resident office by Sunday. The UN will also consider government’s assessment before appealing to the world community next week.
Disaster Management Secretary also said that the government would appeal to the international community through the Economic Relations Division (ERD).
Coutts said that as the floodwater has started to recede the extent of new damages is emerging everyday.
He also mentioned that flooding in April destroyed rice crop significantly and another flood in mid-July washed away people’s household, food stocks affecting the purchasing capacity of the poor farmers and agriculture labourers.
A meeting insider informed the Press that donors and UN officials stressed on timely supply of livelihood and food in the flood-hit areas to avert another huge influx of rural people in the capital in search of survival.
The meeting mentioned that about two crore people have become homeless in the current flood, the meeting source said. Food and Disaster Management Secretary added that some three crore agriculture dependent people have lost purchasing capacity in the flood.
Disaster Management Secretary Siddiqur Rahman was optimistic of getting positive response from the international community to address damages caused by the current flood. He said that government channels, voluntary organisations and NGOs will be involved in disbursing of foreign assistance in the post-flood rehabilitation work.
Douglous Coutts indicated that another meeting of donors is likely to be convened on August 12. Representatives of USAID, European Union, DFID, GTZ were among others present at the meeting.
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