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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Aid reaches stricken Bangladesh | Aid reaches stricken Bangladesh |
| (about 3 hours 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. | |
| 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 | |
| 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". |
| "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. | "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. | |
| 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 costs | 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 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. |
| '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. | |
| 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 |