(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-19 20:28

DHAKA - Bangladesh Monday asked international community to assist its cyclone victims and post-cyclone rehabilitation as official count so far put the death figure at 2407.

Bangladeshi cyclone affected women and children rest near an uprooted shop in Boroitola village, on the southern coastal area of Bangladesh, 19 November 2007. Soldiers and relief workers raced to get aid to millions left homeless by the cyclone in Bangladesh, where the official death toll has topped 3,100 and is certain to rise. [Agencies]

"It is our view that our friends will come forward to assist us at this hour of our need," Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said in a statement to the press.

He said, "we are doing everything we can ourselves, but the magnitude of the calamity has been just too great."

World leaders already offered condolence and sympathies for the cyclone victims while donors and agencies pledged more than 30 million as emergency relief.

Earlier Monday, a spokesman of the foreign ministry said this year Bangladesh has been subject to a series of severe natural disasters. Cyclone Sidr, the most devastating storm, came in the wake of two rounds of massive floods which claimed over 1,000 people and affected 16 million.

The government had undertaken all necessary measures to remain prepared in every possible way. Despite these steps, the spokesman said appalling damages have occurred of which assessment is still on-going.

He said while the resilient people of Bangladesh and the government are making every effort to cope with the adversities, at this time, Bangladesh will welcome support from the international community as before, through the government, to help mitigate the effects of the disasters.