Action by Churches Together (ACT)
Update - Bangladesh - 1/2004
Tornado Devastation in North-Eastern Bangladesh
Geneva,  30 April 2004 


Twin tornadoes of devastating force swept across Netrakona and Mymenshingh
districts of north-eastern Bangladesh on the evenings of 14 and 18 April.  
The giant tornado swept away nearly everything in its wake - razing about
7,000 houses and even uprooting hand tube wells.

According to ACT member Church of Bangladesh Social Development Programme
(CBSDP) which has its Programme Office in Haluaghat Mymenshing District,
one of the devastated areas, on 14 April five villages were affected and
the death toll reached 19.  There were a further 36 tornado related deaths
in Netrokona district.  Most of the houses made of clay have been razed to
the ground and people are living out in the open.  The Government and many
NGOs have already assisted with emergency relief and CBSDP sanctioned the
use of TK 50,000 (approx US$ 850) to help the tornado victims in Haluaghat
area.

CBSDP further reported that 16 villages in Meherpur District were affected
by the heavy storms on 18 April. Two people died and 2,000 houses were
either totally or partially destroyed.  Crops and seasonal fruits were
also devastated. Along with other NGOs CBSDP extended support to the value
of TK 50,000 to assist the tornado victims.

As the tornado-hit areas were outside the operational areas of ACT member
Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS), and as the government and other
agencies were working there, RDRS donated the equivalent of US$ 8,600 to
the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

ACT member Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB)
distributed about US$ 3,500 worth of relief items (including 250 sarees,
200 sets of children's garments, 200 plastic sheets and 400 kgs of BP-5
biscuits) from their emergency stock to 600 affected families in five
villages through their partner Basic Development Partners (BDP) operating
in the areas.

ACT member Koinonia raised around US$ 27,470 through their own channels
and will assist 300 families in Haluaghat Upazilla, Mymensing District
with CI sheeting, mosquito nets, sarees, lungis, plates and glasses.
During a Bangladesh ACT Partners Meeting held on 25 April it was decided
that there would be no request to the ACT Alliance for support as the
Government, international agencies and NGOs had already provided
sufficient relief.


Thank you for your attention.

For further information please contact:
  ACT Director, Thor-Arne Prois (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or
    mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055)  or

  ACT Appeals Officer, Mieke Weeda (phone ++ 41 22 791 6035 or
    mobile phone ++ 41 79 285 2916)


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Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and
their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency
response.  The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of 
Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
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