The European Commission on Thursday announced a new 12-million euro (19-million dollar) humanitarian aid package for victims of last year's devastating cyclone in Bangladesh.
The aid will be focussed on providing food aid and food security, and also supplying emergency aid such as shelter, water and sanitation and emergency livelihoods support, the EU's executive arm said in a statement. "The situation of the population affected by the Sidr cyclone remains extremely worrying as the scars of the catastrophe's aftermath are still clearly visible," said EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel.
"The region is prone to natural disasters and these funds will help the most vulnerable to rebuild their lives under better conditions." Last November the very strong Sidr cyclone hit the coast of south-west Bangladesh with winds of up to 240 kilometres (150 miles) per hour.