Press Release - 27 November 2007
Bangladesh task is equivalent to “rebuilding Birmingham”
The devastation left by Cyclone Sidr Bangladesh has left the people with a task bigger than rebuilding Birmingham said the Disasters Emergency Committee today.
As many as 500,000 houses have been destroyed across 30 districts of southwest Bangladesh and another 1.1million houses have been partially destroyed.
The Disasters Emergency Committee last Thursday launched an appeal to help the five million people who have been affected by the devastation. So far the UK public has donated around £2.5million but much more is needed.
Outbreaks of typhoid and other water borne diseases have been reported as only around 10% of the wells in the affected areas are safe.
Early warning systems and cyclone shelters provided by the DEC member agencies helped keep the death toll down to 3000, but there is a serious risk that water borne diseases could claim many more lives unless clean water is made available to all those affected.
“The task ahead of the people of Bangladesh is immense,” said Brendan Gormley. “People are already hard at work picking up the pieces of their lives again but they need our help. Our member agencies are already providing food, clean water, health care and building materials.”
To make a donation please call 0870 60 60 900 or visit the website on www.dec.org.uk. Alternatively donations can be made at any UK post office quoting Freepay 1490 DEC Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal.
For further information, footage, photos, interviews please contact the DEC press office on 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999014
Notes to Editors
1. Number of houses destroyed in Bangladesh – up to 500,000. Average occupancy in UK is 2.4 people per house thus 500,000 multiplied by 2.4 is 1.2million people whose homes have been completely destroyed. Birmingham population is just under 1 million according to the Office of National Statistics.
2. Only 1475 out of 18000 wells are functioning in the affected areas according to the Department of Public Health and Engineering in Bangladesh
Please donate to the DEC Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal online at www.dec.org.uk. The DEC urgently needs your support to help millions to survive. Please give what you can. The DEC launches and co-ordinates national fundraising appeals for public donations on behalf of its member agencies. Registered Charity No 1062638