Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Bengalis Fight for Survival

Food shortages and disease follow cyclone

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 22, 2007 6:11 AM CST

(Newser) – Fights broke out among cyclone survivors desperate for meager supplies as aid agencies struggled to get food to the hungry, reports the AP. Cyclone Sidr killed thousands in Bangladesh last week, and food and drinking water shortages could bring a second wave of death—this time from hunger and disease.

Hundreds of thousands of homeless survivors are struggling to feed their families. Millions of dollars in aid has been pledged and relief workers are doing their best to get help to isolated communities, but they face a colossal task. "I didn't have enough food before the storm," said one man. "We have hardly eaten at all since."

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

A cyclone affected family constructs a makeshift hut at Gorjon Bunia, 176 kilometers (110 miles) south of Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007. Overburdened relief centers scrambled Wednesday... (Associated Press)

Moyna, left, and her mother, right, mourn the death of a family member who was killed in the recent cyclone, at Mazir Char, 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007.... (Associated Press)

Villagers fight as they wait to receive aid outside a relief center at Tafalbari village in Bagerhat district of Bangladesh, Wednesday Nov. 21, 2007. Overburdened relief centers scrambled to help tens... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Survivors Await Aid Bangladesh Cyclone Sidr Aftermath (naz220 (YouTube))

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Bengali Cyclone Toll Hits 1,100

Relief slowed as power, phones remain out

(NEWSER) - The death toll from yesterday’s cyclone in Bangladesh has risen to 1,100, and widespread power and telephone shortages are slowing relief work. The full devastation may not be known for days. Relief agencies have descended on the impoverished nation, but blocked roads and rivers make reaching the worst-hit areas difficult, the AP reports. More»

Burma Cyclone Toll Leaps to 4,000

Another 3,000 missing, hundreds of thousands homeless

(NEWSER) - The death toll in yesterday's Burmese hurricane has skyrocketed to 4,000, CNN reports, up from initial estimates of 350. State-run media issued a revised estimate this morning, along with the government's emergency plea for help. Another 3,000 are thought to be missing. Major relief work has already begun, with international groups coordinating a joint effort, but work was being hampered by the government's travel restrictions on foreigners. More»

Cyclone Deaths in Thousands

Local reports estimate 2,000 dead, as rescue efforts begin

(NEWSER) - More than 1,000 have been confirmed dead in the wake of Thursday's cyclone in Bangladesh, but local news reports double that number, as a virtual national blackout and debris-filled roads have stymied efforts to assess the true brunt of the storm, reports the BBC. "We are expecting that thousands of dead bodies may be found within a few days," says a disaster-relief official. More»

500 Dead in Bangladesh Cyclone

Aid starts to flow in wake of Sidr devastation

(NEWSER) - At least 500 people were killed and villages ripped apart over night when Cyclone Sidr slammed into the southern shores of Bangladesh, CNN reports. Officials expect the death toll to rise as workers re-establish communication and transport links. Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated this week; food for at least 400,000 is on its way, and relief organizations are sending teams. More»

Cyclone Kills 90 in Bangladesh, India

Hundreds of thousands flee as Aila lashes Bengal region

(NEWSER) - At least 90 people were killed when a cyclone ripped into Bangladesh and eastern India yesterday, Reuters reports. Tens of thousands of others lost their homes and crops as Cyclone Aila caused tidal waves and flooding. Troops in both countries are scrambling to rescue marooned people and deliver emergency supplies. Many people are still missing and the death toll is expected to rise significantly. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Bengalis Fight for Survival