The Estonian Foreign Ministry is supporting the coastal inhabitants of Bangladesh that were affected by Cyclone Sidr with 500, 000 kroons through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The contributions were allocated from the Foreign Ministry's budget for development and humanitarian aid.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet expresses sympathy for those suffering in the aftermath of this natural disaster."The catastrophic situation in Bangladesh has caused many deaths, and driven even more people to leave their homes," said Paet."Estonia will help to alleviate the victims' situation, thereby improving their chances for resuming a normal life," he added.
The International Red Cross has launched an appeal to provide humanitarian aid to Bangladesh. Estonia is responding to this appeal. The aid is meant to provide food, clean water and medicine to the victims. The European Commission has decided to allocate aid in the amount of 24.3 million kroons (1.5 million euros). Bangladesh is also receiving aid from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF).
As a result of powerful Cyclone Sidr, which battered Bangladesh's coastal areas starting Thursday night, the death toll is likely above 1,000 people, with many more injured or missing. The category 4 cyclone caused a five-metre-high tidal wave, which struck three coastal towns and forced almost 3.2 million people to evacuate their homes.
According to the UN's estimation, over 158 million people live in Bangladesh. The nation is situated very low in relation to sea level and is ravaged by strong storms and cyclones every year. The funds set aside in the Foreign Ministry's budget for development and humanitarian aid in 2007 is 23 million kroons.
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