Emergency appeal

22 November 2007

Cyclone Sidr, which hit the southern coast of Bangladesh on 15 November has claimed the lives of over 3,000 people, with numbers expected to rise substantially. It is estimated that one million families have been affected by the worst storm to have hit Bangladesh since 1991.

Anna Jonasson/CoS-ACT International

The cyclone has destroyed and damaged thousands of homes, brought down power lines and wiped out vital crops. Officials say that in many areas, 95% of rice, which was awaiting harvest, has been destroyed.

Hundreds of thousands of people, especially those living in coastal areas, have been evacuated to nearby shelters. Many others have taken shelter in school buildings and other available facilities. Some are living under the open sky. 

The population in the south of the country has been cut off from health services, they have no electricity and are in desperate need of shelter, food and clean drinking water.

Y Care International has launched an emergency appeal to raise money for our partner, ACT International, working to provide relief to the most vulnerable groups of people in the districts of Bagerhat, Barisal, Gopalganj, Khulna and Madarapur.

Funds raised by the appeal will help to provide:

• Emergency food rations
• Clean drinking water
• Medical support
• Shelter and bedding

We need to act immediately to provide relief to vulnerable people in remote areas of the country.

Donations to our Cyclone Sidr appeal can be made over the counter at the following high street building societies and banks:

• Bradford & Bingley PLC
• Cheltenham & Gloucester PLC
• Cheshire Building Society
• Coventry Building Society
• Cumberland Building Society
• Derbyshire Building Society
• Dunfermline Building Society
• Kent Reliance Building Society
• Norwich & Peterborough Building Society
  
• Nationwide Building Society
• Progressive Building Society
• Skipton Building Society