An expert team of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reached Mongla Port in Bagerhat yesterday afternoon to assess the extent of adverse impacts caused to the Sundarbans by the oil spill following an oil tanker capsize.
“The UN team reached Mongla Port around 4pm, and we along with the team will set out a journey by boats within an hour towards the oil-spill affected area,” Divisional Forest Officer Amir Hossain Chowdhury of the Sundarbans East Zone (Bagerhat) told UNB over phone.
The team left Dhaka around 7am with 20 experts and five other officials, according to a UNDP official accompanying the team.
In response to a government request, the UN system in Bangladesh mobilised the international team of experts to support the government’s drive to clean up the oil spill in the Sundarbans.
Dr Tapan Kumar Dey, a forest conservator (wildlife), said a 25-member UNDP team, including nine foreign experts, will be visiting the affected areas of the Sundarbans.
He said the team will assess the adverse impacts of the oil spill on ecosystem and biodiversity of the mangrove forest while the Forest Department will assist the team during its visit.
“After their visit, the team will hold a meeting with the Forest Department and make their observations on the environmental disaster,” Dr Tapan added.
A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team will also conduct an assessment and advise the government on recovery and risk reduction measures.
