Denmark, Canada announce Tk 4.8 million in aid for cyclone victims

Denmark and Canada are providing Tk 4.8 million in aid to the victims of Cyclone Mora in Bangladesh.

The Danish government gave Tk 3.6 million to the International Organisation for Migration as disaster relief to Rohingya refugees near Cox’s Bazar in the wake of the cyclone, the Danish Embassy in Dhaka said.

The Canadian High Commission said they would provide CAD20,000 or Tk 1.2 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society as an immediate response to the victims.

Cyclone Mora made landfall in Bangladesh’s coastal region on May 30 with heavy rains and winds, and left a trail of destruction in its path. Over 200,000 people were displaced while six were killed and 136 injured, according to a UN statement.

The government and the UN agencies have already started providing humanitarian assistance. India also provided relief materials.

Canada says its fund will be used to provide immediate assistance to the victims for two months. The operation will focus on emergency food, shelter toolkits, safe drinking water and water storage items, basic non-food items, sanitation and hygiene assistance.

The Danish Embassy said three makeshift settlements housing undocumented Rohingya refugees have been severely damaged by the cyclone.

Some 80,000 undocumented Rohingya refugees are fully or partially without shelter as a result of the cyclone, according to IOM Bangladesh.

“The Danish contribution will first and foremost be used for building new shelters in the settlements of Kutupalong, Balukhali, Leda and Shamlapur in Cox’s Bazar district,” the embassy said in a statement.

The contribution will also provide other necessary households items that have been destroyed in the storm.