DHAKA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Program (WFP) is launching a 52 million U.S. dollars program to feed 2.2 million people affected by the cyclone in Bangladesh for over six months.

    "An appeal for the amount has been made by the WFP and the response is satisfactory," WFP Representative in Bangladesh Douglas Broderick was quoted by private news agency UNB as saying Sunday.

    He said this while meeting with Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury of Bangladesh caretaker government here Sunday.

    He said the WFP was in response to the Bangladesh government's requirement for food grain to tackle the post-cyclone situation.

    Agriculture Adviser CS Karim on Saturday said the government will require to procure at least 1 million tons of rice, while 2 million tons of wheat are needed to be imported to meet the country's food grain shortfall.

    The cyclone Sidr, one of the fiercest cyclones hit Bangladesh in the last 131 years, slammed the country's southern and southwestern areas on Nov. 15, affecting 30 out of total 64 districts and leaving thousands dead and millions homeless.