Bangladesh in $1bn cyclone appeal

The UN says that millions of people need help

The government of Bangladesh has appealed for aid totalling $1bn to rebuild areas of the south coast devastated by last month's cyclone.

The military-backed caretaker government says that the money is needed to repair storm damage and provide better cyclone protection.

Meanwhile the UN has said that the humanitarian crisis caused by Cyclone Sidr is worse than previously thought.

It says that more two million people are in need of life-saving assistance.

'New resolve'

The head of the country's emergency government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, told donors in a meeting late on Monday that at least eight million people living on the south-western coast were now facing the "bleak prospect of destitution".

We need to look at these catastrophes in the light of the global phenomenon of climate change Fakhruddin Ahmed

He said that the country needed to be better prepared for future natural disasters following heavy floods during this year's monsoon.

"After two consecutive floods during the monsoon and then Cyclone Sidr, we need a new resolve to shape our destiny," he said.

At least 3,268 people were killed when the cyclone hit Bangladesh on 15 November, destroying villages, paddy fields, electricity pylons and fresh water supplies.

"We cannot allow the cyclone victims to permanently slide down into poverty," said Mr Ahmed.

"We urge the international community to take a long-term holistic approach in helping us confront the challenges of natural disasters that continue to grow in severity and frequency due to climate change.

"An internationally created problem like climate change demands an internationally supported sustainable solution for those worst-affected, as in Bangladesh."

Emergency assistance

Mr Ahmed said that approximately:

• $250m was needed to rebuild coast banks
• $150m was needed for reforestation
• $300m was needed to repair roads and bridges
• $100m was needed for damaged schools
• $200m was required for new cyclone shelters

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the UN warned that about 2.6 million Bangladeshis across nine districts need emergency assistance.

The UN says that the scale of the disaster has been under-estimated

It says that damage to property is more severe than first reported, with nearly 564,000 homes destroyed and 885,280 houses damaged.

The UN estimates livestock losses to be at least 1.25 million, more than double an initial estimate, and the estimated area of crop land damaged had risen to 2m acres (810,000 hectares).

It says that food, shelter and cash are now the three greatest priorities, along with better sanitation and drinking water, electricity and livelihood assistance.

So far the UN Central Emergency Response Fund has disbursed $14.7m towards the relief effort, while international donors have contributed more than $143m.

"As assessments are ongoing, additional funds might be required in order to provide comprehensive humanitarian assistance to populations affected by the storm, especially as new needs continue to be identified," a UN statement said.