European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 10, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday. September 10. 19bb the stars and stripes Page 9 left Pahulu slums an Aerial Lew of the flu Dini in Dhaka. Bangladesh while residents of my rear Bangladesh move along the hooded streets of their City in boats. Relief efforts in Bangladesh still hampered Dhaka Bangladesh a River Levels were stable or receding thursday and the Dhaka Airport reopened so re Lief supplies am be flown in but distribution of raid to Hood victims was slow and the death loll continued climbing. The government said 609 people have died in floods that began Vith Lviv annual Monsoon season in june Luperco off then resumed in devastating fashion aug. 27. Daily tallies by Dhaka newspapers local More than 1.300, which is considered More accurate. Information minister Mahbubur Rahman thursday said 510 people drowned died of Snake Hiles or were killed when their houses collapsed. Thy government he ally Center reported 99 deaths from diarrhoea caused by drinking polluted water that flooded three quarters of the country s 55.000 Square Miles health Center officials reported 135.537 known cases of diarrhoea nationwide an increase of 15,715 in the previous 34 hours hut that includes Only Areus in communication with die capital. Officials say bout one Quarter of Bangladesh s tto million people Are homeless. Many Mill Are stranded on rooftops in boats and on the rare patches of High ground in Bangladesh most of which is a Vam River Delia. Water Levels in flood areas Range from i few inches to More than 1 1 feet. Rahman insisted there was no shortage of water purification tablets. But More than two do in people interviewed at ran Dom thursday in Relief Camps flooded buildings and on rooftops in Dhaka said they had no purification tablets and were drinking water that could be dangerous. A Diplomat from a Western nation that has tried to buy water purification tablets for Relief distribution reported searching in vain for sufficient quantities in Bangladesh and nearby countries. Representatives of other Aid donors made similar reports All on condition of anonymity. Pledges of disaster Aid reached a total of a least $60 million thursday according to figures for individual nations reported by Rahman the information minister. Included arc $16.9 million in goods and Cash from Japan 13.6 million front the United states and $6.5 million each from trance and the International league of red Cross and red Crescent societies. Much of the Aid will Lake the form of fond blankets and Medicine. Britain said ii i Send is 1.9 million in new Aid. The foreign office said in London on thursday that the Aid supplements $,"00,000 that has already been pledged. Prospects for getting it to Bangladesh brightened with the opening of Linaka s Airport 10 All aircraft. More than half the. 10,000-Lbut runway was hooded earlier in the week and Only helicopters and smaller commercial air Craft were Landing. The world food program issued a statement in Rome saying the greatest problem is Movin Gil e Aid to where it is needed. Relief distribution is being carried out by boats bar Ges and tugs and a very limited number of helicopters inc . Agency said. The government of Bangladesh has appealed for More logistical  Rahman told reporters that neighbouring countries agreed to study Iho flood problem in an Effort to control 1 a Basla Dushi Juruth lakes shelter in u tree after flood aim inundated his Home North of Dhaka . The annual deluge carried by Rivers that originate in India and Nepal. He said the problem was put on lie Agenda of the december meeting of the South Asia association for regional co operation. The three mightiest Rivers that run through the country to the Bay of Bengal arc inc Ganges Brahmaputra and Meghna. Roods arc a problem even Monsoon season but the inundation this year is the worst for Many years in Bangladesh whose Rivers cover 10 pc Iceni of its territory even in Normal limes. Rapid deforestation in India and Nepal has contributed to the problem because Bare soil cannot retain As much water according to geographers govern ment officials and . Specialists. A report from the Bangladesh flood warning and forecast Center said the Ganges and Meghna continued receding slightly thursday and inc Brahmaputra held its level with All three still above flood stage