Brussels, 20/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to allocate an additional €10 million for the victims of Cyclone Aila, which struck Bangladesh in May 2009. This emergency aid, financed by ECHO, the European Commission's humanitarian aid department, will help several hundred thousand Bangladeshis, who left their flooded villages and have been displaced on the road or camped on the remaining sections of embankments, sometimes for almost two years. The aid will meet their needs until the November harvest.
The new aid will help returning victims to bridge their food gap until the November harvest, by providing food assistance support including seeds, fertilizers, as well as tools, so that they can re-plant their crops before the monsoon season. Cash for training and cash for work activities will also be implemented. The aid will focus on essential infrastructure renewal such as: potable water catchment, canal rehabilitation, sanitation and shelter repair.
In a press release, Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, said: “Although almost two years have passed since the cyclone struck Bangladesh, its victims are still trying to mend their lives. With this new allocation, we will help affected populations to rebuild their shattered lives.”
Cyclone Aila struck the western part of Bangladesh on 25 May 2009, directly affecting some 3.9 million people, destroying the homes of 1 million people and the majority of protection embankments. With the repair of embankments being almost completed by the government of Bangladesh, they are now able to return home. (A.N./transl.fl)