British appeal for Bangladesh aid

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Thirteen British aid agencies have launched an appeal to raise millions of pounds to help survivors of the devastating cyclone in Bangladesh.

Donations to the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) fund will provide food, clean water, medicines and shelter.

Some five million people are in need of basic supplies and about a million homes have been damaged or destroyed.

Meanwhile, Oxfam is encouraging Bangladeshi-owned restaurants in the UK to add a £1 donation to every bill.

The charity has joined forces with the British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce (BBCC) to launch the appeal.

Aziz-ur Rahman, director general of the BBCC, said: "With more than 10,000 restaurants and thousands of shops and other businesses around the UK, Britain's Bangladeshi businesses can make a real difference to this appeal.

"We are backing Oxfam's appeal because our communities, our families and our people need direct help urgently."

'Terrible tragedy'

Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh's southern coast last Thursday, bringing with it winds of up to 240km/h (150mph) and a tidal surge of several metres.

The sheer scale of devastation and suffering means we must help in every way we can Brendan GormleyDisaster Emergency Committee

One million acres of farmland are thought to have been devastated.

So far the government says it has received aid pledges of up to $500m (£242,000).

Brendan Gormley, DEC chief executive, said: "This is a terrible tragedy and the sheer scale of devastation and suffering means we must help in every way we can.

"Our member agencies are already working in Bangladesh providing humanitarian aid and we know that funds are urgently needed to be able to continue this work."

In recent years, the DEC has helped people affected by the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, the Asian earthquake in 2005 and the tsunami in 2004.

The 13 DEC agencies are Action Aid, British Red Cross, Cafod, Care International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.

To donate to the Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal, go to www.dec.org.uk or phone 0870 6060900.