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Aid vow for Bangladesh 'calamity' Aid reaches stricken Bangladesh
(about 3 hours later)
Aid pledges are pouring in to help victims of a deadly Bangladesh storm that government officials have described as a "national calamity". Rescue and relief teams are thought to have reached much of remote Bangladesh devastated by a powerful cyclone.
The UK is sending $5m for relief efforts in addition to pledges from other nations and the European Union. Cyclone Sidr has killed thousands, with authorities confirming at least 2,300 deaths but fears that the final toll could be significantly higher.
Authorities put the death toll from Cyclone Sidr at 2,300. An estimated one million families are thought to have been affected.
However, Bangladesh's Red Crescent society says up to 10,000 may have died and Red Cross officials say almost one million families 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".
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.
Among major donors is the UK, which is sending $5m for relief efforts in addition to pledges from other nations and the European Union.
Pope's callPope's call
A spokesman for the UN World Food Programme in Bangladesh, which is overseeing the aid operation, said agencies had reacted "quickly and swiftly".
"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.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed "deepest sympathies to the people of Bangladesh".US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed "deepest sympathies to the people of Bangladesh".
Announcing $2m in aid, she said the US would call in "a multitude of US government disaster relief agencies and departments" to help.Announcing $2m in aid, she said the US would call in "a multitude of US government disaster relief agencies and departments" to help.
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 In pictures: Counting costsI'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 In pictures: Counting costs
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.
Urging more aid effort, the Bangladesh government adviser for food and disaster management, Tapan Chowdhury, said the cyclone was a "national calamity".
Pope Benedict XVI in his Sunday blessing at the Vatican called for "every possible effort to help our brothers who have been so sorely tested".Pope Benedict XVI in his Sunday blessing at the Vatican called for "every possible effort to help our brothers who have been so sorely tested".
International aid staff are working alongside troops to bring supplies to remote coastal areas that were cut off.International aid staff are working alongside troops to bring supplies to remote coastal areas that were cut off.
Starting againStarting again
The BBC's Mark Dummett is in the worst-affected area and says relief teams have now reached most of the remote communities in southern Bangladesh.The BBC's Mark Dummett is in the worst-affected area and says relief teams have now reached most of the remote communities in southern Bangladesh.
Survivor Abdul Jalil told him: "We've lost everything now and I don't know what to do... I need some money to start my business again because I don't have a single penny with me now."Survivor Abdul Jalil told him: "We've lost everything now and I don't know what to do... I need some money to start my business again because I don't have a single penny with me now."
In Barguna, farmer Asad Ali told Associated Press news agency that mobs had swarmed around helicopters that were dropping food packages.In 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 ImagePath 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 awayWashed 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:
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