UNITED NATIONS ‘READY AND WILLING’ TO HELP BANGLADESH RESPOND TO CYCLONE SIDR,

WITH ASSESSMENT TEAMS, MILLIONS FROM CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND

The following statement was issued Sunday, 18 November, by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General has been following with mounting concern the devastation in Bangladesh resulting from Cyclone Sidr.  He wishes to express his profound condolences to the people and Government of Bangladesh for the many deaths and the destruction involved, and the full solidarity of the United Nations system at this time of crisis.

As we have made clear to the Bangladesh authorities, the United Nations is ready and willing to help them respond in any way possible.  United Nations agencies on the ground are already responding to the basic needs of those affected, and our assessment teams are on the spot.  We have made clear that several million dollars are available from the Central Emergency Response Fund, depending on need.

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For information media • not an official record