Six days on from the powerful cyclone that hit coastal districts of Southern Bangladesh last week, triggering a 15-feet (5-metre) high tidal surge and winds of over 200 km per hour, only now is the full devastation becoming apparent. Although the exact figure of losses of lives and properties remains unknown, reports from the Bangladeshi government have put the death toll at 3,000, with over 6.5 million survivors in need of urgent support. Farah Kabir, ActionAid's Country Director in Bangladesh, told how the country is buckling under the weight of the destruction. "We are overwhelmed," she said. "At least 80% of trees and head of livestock have been destroyed in the affected areas. We must put all efforts to reach out to the poorest, especially women and children, as they often get overlooked in such situations."

What ActionAid is doing:

ActionAid has stepped up its response to the emergency, working closely with partner organisations on the ground to distribute essential relief items, including dry food, oral rehydration salts, water purifying tablets and clothing to over 30,000 people. Preparations are also underway for a second round of relief with cooked food items as and when required by those living in the affected areas. ActionAid's approach to emergencies also involves helping people cope with the emotional trauma of such disasters, both in the immediate aftermath and the long-term. "Apart from the emergency relief need, there are huge number of injured people and families who are traumatised due to the devastation and loss of their dear ones." explains Wahida Bahsar Ahmed, Theme Leader, Disaster and Risk Reduction of ActionAid, adding that survivors will "need immediate treatment and psycho-social care." ActionAid is already planning for longer-term rehabilitation and preparedness work, helping people to rebuild their lives and better prepare themselves for future disasters.etter prepare themselves for future disasters.