(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-17 19:46

DHAKA -- A United Nations official Saturday praised the Bangladeshi government's preparedness in tackling the disastrous cyclone and said the UN was currently assessing the damages to come up with appropriate relief supports.

UN Coordinator and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Country Representative in Bangladesh Renata Derssallien said this while talking to journalists after meeting with Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at his ministry office to discuss the possibilities of UN support in post-cyclone relief.

She expressed the UN's "deep condolences" over the loss of lives and property and said assessment teams are now on the field calculating the amount of relief that would be required.

The UNDP country representative said she was "very impressed" by the government's actions, which she thought were "excellent".

Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury said the relief coordination was being conducted by caretaker government Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed himself and all government agencies were working together in the post-cyclone relief operations.

He said, "The Foreign Ministry will continue to remain in constant contact with our foreign friends, particularly the UN, to reach food, water and medicines to the affected people as soon as possible."

Earlier, the Office of the Coordinator of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) of the UN had offered over 6 million U.S. dollars for the post-flood relief and rehabilitation.

The power cyclone code-named "Sidr" attacked Bangladesh's southern and southwestern areas Thursday night, leaving at least 1, 000 people dead and countless homeless.