Plan steps up Bangladesh aid

House damaged by Cyclone Sidr

22 November 2007: Child survivors of Cyclone Sidr, which hit Bangladesh last week, are receiving food, clothes and toys as Plan steps up its relief effort.

Official figures show that more than 3,000 people have died as a result of the cyclone. The final death toll could top 10,000 according to some estimates. More than a third of the dead are believed to be children.

Plan is working to help the traumatised child survivors, many of whom have lost parents and watched their homes and schools blown away by the cyclone, the worst to hit Bangladesh in recent years.

Aid on its way

Aid - including survival packs containing food, plastic sheets and clothing - is being distributed to 50,000 people affected by the storm, which destroyed more than 300,000 homes.

Plan has provided an initial US$100,000 from its emergency fund and hopes to provide hundreds of thousands more during the coming weeks.

Initial relief efforts, expected to last around 3 months, will concentrate on providing much needed supplies and psychological support for children. Children are particularly hard hit by emergencies but are often overlooked in relief efforts.

Rebuilding

Following the relief effort Plan Bangladesh will work to help rebuild schools and communities and repair shattered lives. 7 out of 10 schools in affected areas were destroyed by the cyclone.

Plan will also be working to provide safe spaces for children to play with their peers and give their parents the opportunity to rebuild their homes and communities.

Make a donation

Please help us assist those affected by making a donation to our Bangladesh cyclone appeal via our fundraising countries:

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