Cyclone Kills 2000 in Bangladesh

The BBC reports that the toll from the cyclone destroyed large parts of southern and central Bangladesh. This figure is expected to rise as the government and others try to reach areas which are not accessible.

***UpdateAl Jazeera reports that the toll as of November 18 is more than 3000! This latest video clip from Al Jazeera documents the difficulty in getting aid to some villagers (November 18)***


Cyclone Sidr is said to have destroyed the homes of thousands of people who are now homeless.


The BBC says that the "storm hit Bangladesh late on Thursday, with winds rising to 240km/h (150mph). It passed through the capital Dhaka hours later, before dying down in the north-east of the country."


Thousands of acres of crops have been destroyed and the future for reconstruction seems bleak indeed.

When I was living in Delhi I had a trip to Bangladesh planned but I had to set it aside. I still want to go and my thoughts are with the many millions who are suffering through Cyclone Sidr.


Cyclones and flooding are common in Bangladesh around this time of the year.

But as the BBC reports, this "is the most destructive storm to hit the country in more than a decade."

Al Jazeera reports that the United Nations "has pledged several millions of dollars in aid while the European Commission said it is sending $2.2m in emergency relief to Bangladesh."

This Al Jazeera clip (November 17) covers "hope and despair" in Bangladesh after Cyclone Sidr.