UN team reaches Sundarbans

The Joint UN-Government of Bangladesh Sundarbans Oil Spill Response Mission has reached the Sundarbans.

The team will examine the negative impacts of the oil spill on the forest and its ecology and recommend immediate actions to tackle them.

Sundarbans forest department official Jahidul Kabir said there were at least 25 members, both local and foreign experts, on the UN team that arrived at the Sundarbans on Monday.

He said the team would spend the night on boat in the Pashur River and visit the site on Tuesday.

Earlier in the afternoon, the team's head Amelia Walstrom told reporters at Mongla that they were there to inspect the oil spill following the request from the Bangladesh government.

She said her team would first collect scientific data and materials during their inspection.

After conducting tests, it would be possible to ascertain the kind of damage the oil spill had caused until now and what actions would have to be taken to address it, she added.

An oil-tanker carrying more than 350,000 litres of furnace oil sank in the Shela River in the Sundarbans on Dec 9.

The government temporarily shut the riverine route after the incident and started mopping up oil with locals' help.