Lissner stresses flood loss figure reasonable
BSS, Dhaka
Resident Coordinator of United Nations Jorgen Lissner yesterday said the government assessment on the damage of the current deluge in Bangladesh is "reasonable" in view of the UN experience in facing disasters around the globe."The UN thinks the government estimate of $6.6 billion damage is reasonable in view of other disasters that the UN faced or responded to in other parts of the world," UNDP spokeswoman Lisa Hiller quoted Lissner as saying while asked to comment on the damage assessment. Lissner, however, said the "damage assessment is not an exact science" and no-one knows the exact extent of damage at this stage. Asked to comment on the damage estimates by a private policy watchdog, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), the UN coordinator said he was yet to go through their documents. The difference between the government and CPD estimates matters little in terms of the UN flash appeal seeking $210 million from the international community, he said. "We've appealed for $210 million but that's a small amount compared to what will be required either way to get Bangladesh back to its feet," he added.
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