(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-24 14:40

Dhaka -- The UN increased its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocation to a total of US$14.7 million to pay for international relief assistance for the victims.

This brings the total UN system response to about US$35 million, and this figure will continue to rise over the next few weeks, a UN release said Friday night.

"This funding will enable UN system to provide life-saving drinking water equipment for communities at risk from water-borne illness and other vital assistance," said Renata Lok Dessallien, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh.

"The CERF funding is crucial for preventing epidemics of water- borne disease in the Cyclone-affected areas and for saving lives at this moment," Dessallien said.

Dessallien also reported that the UN's initial rapid assessment mission that surveyed damages and needs in nine districts badly affected by the Cyclone and made a set of recommendations to deal with the post-cyclone situation.

The recommendations include immediate life-saving food assistance for more than 2 million victims, immediate drinking water supplies for an estimated 1.2 million people, emergency shelter and housing reconstruction assistance, medical assistance and disease prevention and livelihood regeneration.

The UN said in the immediate aftermath of the Cyclone, UNICEF, UNDP, WFP and WHO were quick to respond in support of government relief efforts. Pre-positioned WFP trucks of high-energy biscuits began their dispatches one day after the cyclone, and when road blockages prevented access to the remote areas, WFP immediately began coordinating with the Bangladesh military authorities.

"The WFP is working closely with the Bangladesh Armed Forces to ensure ready-to-eat foods get to those people who need our help the most," said Douglas Broderick, WFP Country Representative.

He said, in addition to high energy biscuits which continue to be air-delivered by military helicopters, they have begun the road and boat transport of 750 tons of rice for the five worst-affected districts.

The killer cyclone left more than 3,000 dead, nearly 2,000 missing and millions homeless.