British Bangladeshis urge donations to Bangladesh cyclone appeal

28 November 2007

 

London based Bangladeshis made a plea for more donations as grim tales emerge of the loss of life of many thousands of people following cyclone Sidr, at a press conference organised by Disasters Emergency Committee.

The British community, which numbers around half a million people, with one fifth of them living in the Greater London area, are struggling to come to terms with the disaster. Many have lost relatives and friends in the disaster.

The General Secretary of Bangladesh Welfare Association, Nurul Islam, said, 'this is a tragedy that has affected every Bangladeshi directly and indirectly. We welcome the initiative of the Disasters Emergency Committee and stand ready to work in partnership to help the victims".

One such case is that of Mrs Nasrin Akther (27), who lives in East London. Thirty six people she knows in her village, including her aunt, were killed by the cyclone. She also described how her Grandmother’s leg was broken by a falling tree. “No outside aid has yet arrived in our village” she said “I feel so helpless being so far away from home. I appeal to the British people to send money needed for food medicine and water”.

Nasrin isn’t alone in her suffering. Beauty Akter (30) a waitress at a Brick Lane restaurant is also in deep anguish. “I wasn’t able to speak to my family until nearly a week after the cyclone hit. All of my family’s houses have been destroyed in my home village of Shingry, Bagerhat District”, she said.

Nasrin described how she was grateful to her work-mates and employer at the restaurant where she works who have given her money to send back to help her family.

Mel Beardon an aid worker for CAFOD who has just returned from Bangladesh spoke about the desperate need for clean water and sanitation in the communities she visited where debris had contaminated drinking water.

“There’s an urgent need for donations to help the millions of people affected by this disaster” she said. “Just  £18 could pay to build a proper latrine to keep families safe from diseases like cholera.”

The phone line for donations is 0870 6060 900. And the website is www.dec.org.uk Donations can also be made through any post office quoting freepay 1490 at DEC Bangladesh cyclone appeal

The thirteen member agencies of the DEC are working in the worst affected districts to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the cyclone.

The Chairman of Brick Lane Business Association, Mahmoud Rauf said,  "It is all our duty to pull together and maximise our efforts in support of the victims of the disaster."

 

 

Notes to Editors
British Bangladeshis whose families have fallen victim to the cyclone are available for interview.

NB: A previous press release stated that 36 members of Nasrin Akther’s extended family died in the cyclone. This should have read 36 people she knows in her village, including her aunt.

For further details, interviews and pictures please call: Ashish Sharma 07920722402 and Fiona Callister 07930 999014 

1. Only 1475 out of 18,000 wells are functioning in the affected areas according to the Department of Public Health and Engineering in Bangladesh

2. The Disasters Emergency Committee agencies are Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.

3. Bangladesh Welfare Association is a community organisation working with Bangladeshis around the UK.

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