DHAKA: In response to a request from the government of Bangladesh, the UN system in the country has mobilized an international team of experts to support the government’s cleanup efforts of the oil spilled in the Sundarbans.

The government of Bangladesh has requested UNDP on December 15 to support government’s efforts.

Subsequently, a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team arrived here to support the ground work in coordination with the government on Thursday.

Additional team members are expected over the weekend.

The team will also conduct an assessment and advice on recovery and risk reduction measures.

This UN support to the government of Bangladesh is led by UNDP with support from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Joint Environment Unit (JEU), and other partner countries including the US, UK, France and EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism.

However, earlier on December 09, an oil tanker Southern Star-7, carrying 357,000 liters of furnace oil, was sunk in Shela River of Sundarbans as a cargo vessel hit it, leading huge oil spill in rivers and adjacent areas of the mangrove forest.

BDST: 2052 HRS, DEC 18, 2014