U.N. grants $8.8M for cyclone victims

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The United Nations has granted $8.8 million for cyclone relief in Bangladesh, where victims reportedly are complaining about inadequate help.

A U.N. news release said the amount was allocated from its Central Emergency Response Fund to support relief efforts. Cyclone Sidr devastated the low-lying country last week, killing more than 3,000 and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.

The U.N. report said Sidr affected more than 3 million people.

A CNN report said even five days after Sidr struck, rotting bodies and animal carcasses could be seen in pools of stagnant water around the coastal city of Patharghata.

Villagers complained of a lack of government help and suggested the official death toll estimates is too low, the report said. Other reports have said the toll could be as high as 10,000.

The U.N. report said Sidr is the second strongest of the three major storms to strike Bangladesh in its recorded history.

The storm also destroyed some 273,000 homes and over 760,000 acres of crops.

The Bangladesh government, which has received aid pledges of about $120 million, reportedly is urging for more global aid. The World Bank plans to send $250 million in emergency aid.