Bangladesh Cyclone Disaster

Monday, November 19, 2007
DHAKA: Grieving survivors and rescuers picked through the rubble left in the wake of a cyclone that battered Bangladesh as the death toll reached over 2,300 on Sunday and a government official declared the disaster “a national calamity”.

Mohammad Abdur Rob, chairman of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, said the overall death toll from the cyclone could reach 10,000. “Based on our experience in the past and reports from the scene I would guess the death toll may be as high as 10,000,” he told Reuters.

Officials also expected the death toll to rise as the search for hundreds of people missing after Thursday’s storm intensified.

Military ships and helicopters were trying to reach thousands of people believed stranded on islands in the Bay of Bengal and in coastal areas still cut off by the devastating storm.

The disaster ministry had recorded 2,300 deaths by 1500 GMT on Sunday, but local media put the figure at more than 3,500. A much improved disaster preparedness plan has been credited with saving scores of lives. Officials in affected areas say the death toll given by the ministry is far below the real numbers.

“Some 2,000 people have died in my area alone,” said Anwar Panchayet in Bagerhat district. Pope Benedict called on Sunday for international aid for Bangladesh. “In renewing my deep condolences to the families and the entire nation, which is very dear to me, I appeal to international solidarity,” the pope said.

“I encourage all possible efforts to help these brothers who are suffering so much.” A huge effort was underway to get food, drinking water and shelter to tens of thousands affected by the storm, the worst to hit disaster-prone Bangladesh since 1991 when nearly 143,000 people died. Cyclone Sidr smashed into the country’s southern coastline late on Thursday with 250-kph winds that whipped up a five metre tidal surge.

Most of the deaths came from the surge washing away homes and strong winds blowing down dwellings. Many others drowned or were lost at sea.

US President George W Bush and his wife have conveyed their condolences to the cyclone victims, as Washington offered an initial grant of $2.1 million for emergency relief, a US embassy statement said on Sunday. The USS Essex and the USS Kearsarge are sailing to Bangladesh help relief and rescue operations, it added.

The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has appealed to the International Red Cross for $6 million for relief and rehabilitation in the cyclone-affected districts.

“Our relief teams have started emergency distribution, with an initial coverage of 100,000 people,” Vince Edwards, national director of World Vision Bangladesh. Helicopters flew sorties to devastated areas, dropping food, drinking water and medicine for the survivors. “There are not many places where we can land,” said one pilot, as large areas were still under water.

Several fishermen picked by a trawler from sea said they saw dozens of bodies floating in the waters near the Sundarbanmangrove forest, a world heritage site and home to the endangered Royal Bengal tiger. They also saw scores of dead deer and other wildlife floating in the Pashur river.

Thats very sad, every country should try to help our brothers in Bangladesh at this critical time.

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Salam Pakistan,

Pak People
Love Pakistan, Love PTV, Love Lollywood, Love Paki dramas, films, radio, music and songs, Love Pakistani Products

Yeah heard that in the News.
It has been a really hard time for the people of Bangladesh.
If you look into the history of Bangladesh, These Cyclones,Flood and Tsunamis have already hitted Bangladesh in the Past alot of times.
Its their Geographical location and features thats creating the problem and will creat those problem in the future too, as said by the Experts.

Bangladesh should prepare themselves for these sort of incidents, its not the first time, nor the last time.

Anyways Our prayer and well wishes are with the people of Bangladesh, hope they will recover soon...!

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	silent wrote:
	GOOD

GOOD ???

Thats Bad Silent.
These people are in trouble; and you are Happy... Crying or Very sad

And most of them are Muslims...

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	Quote:
	And most of them are Muslims...

plus Former Pakistanis.

*

Please help generously to Bangali population
Bangladesh used to be Pakistan. For some idealogical die-heart, it is still a different version of Pakistan.

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Respect All
Long Live Pakistan
In the end All praises are due to Lord

oh my goodness! the cyclone is cwazy! thank you pakistan for your help! We hope this increases the relationship between us and hopefully we can start sharing stuff like nukes.... you all have any nukes lyin around??

Pakistan Zindabad!

	sayem182 wrote:
	oh my goodness! the cyclone is cwazy! thank you pakistan for your help! We hope this increases the relationship between us and hopefully we can start sharing stuff like nukes.... you all have any nukes lyin around??

what was this??

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Respect All
Long Live Pakistan
In the end All praises are due to Lord