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| Aid reaches stricken Bangladesh | Aid reaches stricken Bangladesh |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rescue and relief teams are thought to have reached much of remote Bangladesh devastated by a powerful cyclone. | Rescue and relief teams are thought to have reached much of remote Bangladesh devastated by a powerful cyclone. |
| Cyclone Sidr has killed thousands, with authorities confirming at least 2,300 deaths but fears that the final toll could be significantly higher. | Cyclone Sidr has killed thousands, with authorities confirming at least 2,300 deaths but fears that the final toll could be significantly higher. |
| An estimated one million families are thought to have been affected. | An estimated one million families are thought to have been affected. |
| Aid pledges have begun pouring in to help victims of the storm, which the government in Dhaka has described as a "national calamity". | Aid pledges have begun pouring in to help victims of the storm, which the government in Dhaka has described as a "national calamity". |
| Cyclone Sidr, which struck late on Thursday, brought winds of up to 240km/h (150mph) and a tidal surge of several metres. | Cyclone Sidr, which struck late on Thursday, brought winds of up to 240km/h (150mph) and a tidal surge of several metres. |
| It destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of homes, brought down power lines and wiped out vital crops. | It destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of homes, brought down power lines and wiped out vital crops. |
| Tens of thousands of survivors are now struggling for basic necessities like tents, rice and drinking water. | Tens of thousands of survivors are now struggling for basic necessities like tents, rice and drinking water. |
| Bangladesh's Red Crescent society says up to 10,000 may have died. | Bangladesh's Red Crescent society says up to 10,000 may have died. |
| The BBC's Mark Dummet, in Bangladesh, says there are scenes of devastation along the riverbanks in Barguna District, where people there need shelter, food, water and medicines. | The BBC's Mark Dummet, in Bangladesh, says there are scenes of devastation along the riverbanks in Barguna District, where people there need shelter, food, water and medicines. |
| Though relief teams have now reached most of the remote communities in southern Bangladesh, he says getting delivering aid is extremely difficult and can only be done by boat. | Though relief teams have now reached most of the remote communities in southern Bangladesh, he says getting delivering aid is extremely difficult and can only be done by boat. |
| Aid pledged | Aid pledged |
| Among major donors is the UK, which is sending $5m for relief efforts in addition to pledges from other nations and the European Union. | Among major donors is the UK, which is sending $5m for relief efforts in addition to pledges from other nations and the European Union. |
| A spokesman for the UN World Food Programme in Bangladesh, which is overseeing the aid operation, said agencies had reacted "quickly and swiftly". | A spokesman for the UN World Food Programme in Bangladesh, which is overseeing the aid operation, said agencies had reacted "quickly and swiftly". |
| I've been here waiting for hours for something to eat... what I've got so far are a few biscuits. Not enough Asad Ali, survivor Poor hit hardest Victims run for lives href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7101159.stm">In pictures: Storm aftermath "The relief effort right now is in the acute stage, the beginning stages," Douglas Broderick told the BBC, adding that more than one million people had been fed so far. | |
| Announcing $2m in aid, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US would call in "a multitude of US government disaster relief agencies and departments" to help. | Announcing $2m in aid, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US would call in "a multitude of US government disaster relief agencies and departments" to help. |
| The EU, along with the governments of the UK, Germany, France and others have also announced aid pledges. | The EU, along with the governments of the UK, Germany, France and others have also announced aid pledges. |
| 'Not enough' | 'Not enough' |
| In the town of Barguna, farmer Asad Ali told Associated Press news agency that mobs had swarmed around helicopters that were dropping food packages. | In the town of Barguna, farmer Asad Ali told Associated Press news agency that mobs had swarmed around helicopters that were dropping food packages. |
| Path of Cyclone Sidr across Bay of Bengal and BangladeshEnlarge Image | Path of Cyclone Sidr across Bay of Bengal and BangladeshEnlarge Image |
| "I've been here waiting for hours for something to eat... what I've got so far are a few biscuits. Not enough." | "I've been here waiting for hours for something to eat... what I've got so far are a few biscuits. Not enough." |
| Many survivors are returning to find flattened homes and crops. | Many survivors are returning to find flattened homes and crops. |
| However, the government said it was confident it was up to the relief task. | However, the government said it was confident it was up to the relief task. |
| District official Shahidul Islam said: "We have enough food and water. We are going to overcome the problem." | District official Shahidul Islam said: "We have enough food and water. We are going to overcome the problem." |
| Although the official death toll is 2,300, rescuers fear it could rise significantly. | Although the official death toll is 2,300, rescuers fear it could rise significantly. |
| Mohammad Abdur Rab, chairman of the Bangladeshi Red Crescent Society, said: "It may cross 5,000, but it will remain below 10,000." | Mohammad Abdur Rab, chairman of the Bangladeshi Red Crescent Society, said: "It may cross 5,000, but it will remain below 10,000." |
| Washed away | Washed away |
| A government early-warning system is being credited with saving many lives, but the damage to property and crops has been massive. | A government early-warning system is being credited with saving many lives, but the damage to property and crops has been massive. |
| Officials say that in many areas 95% of rice which was awaiting harvest has been destroyed, and shrimp farms and other crops were simply washed away. | Officials say that in many areas 95% of rice which was awaiting harvest has been destroyed, and shrimp farms and other crops were simply washed away. |
| Cyclone Sidr comes just a few months after floods devastated the north of the country. | Cyclone Sidr comes just a few months after floods devastated the north of the country. |
| Southern Bangladesh is hit every year by cyclones and floods, but Cyclone Sidr is the most destructive storm to hit the country in more than a decade. | Southern Bangladesh is hit every year by cyclones and floods, but Cyclone Sidr is the most destructive storm to hit the country in more than a decade. |
| Another storm in 1991 left some 143,000 dead. | Another storm in 1991 left some 143,000 dead. |
| Have you been affected by the cyclone? Send us your experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected by the cyclone? Send us your experiences using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |