RIYADH, 2 August 2004 — The Kingdom has sent a planeload of relief materials to the victims of widespread flooding in Bangladesh, while the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has made a cash donation to the Disaster Management Relief Fund in Dhaka, Arab News has learned.
A Saudi plane carrying relief materials for the flood victims was flown to Dhaka last Friday. Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Mohammad Al-Obaid Al-Namla formally handed over the relief materials to the secretary of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management Siddiqur Rahman at Zia International Airport.
The 75 tons of relief materials included 6,525 kg medicines, 600 tents, 600 blankets, 3,200 carpets and food items weighing 1,000 kg. “The Kingdom has sent the relief materials as part of humanitarian assistance to the flood affected people in Bangladesh,” said Namla while handing over the donations. He added that more relief would be sent for the victims in due course.
“It is an admirable gesture on the part of the Saudi governmment to have come forward voluntarily to help the flood victims,” Ali Akbar, deputy chief of mission of the Bangladesh Embassy, told Arab News.
The diplomat pointed out that his government has not made any appeals for donations since it feels that the crisis can be managed within its own resources. However, he said his government has been gratefully accepting all forms of voluntary assistance.
The new Bangladesh Consul General, Ashraf Uddin, told Arab News that the IDB has donated $200,000 to the flood relief fund.
