November 20, 2007, Barisal, Bangladesh - With more roads open, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and its partner Caritas Bangladesh anticipate reaching 57,700 people (12,500 families) this week with emergency food distributions and relief supplies as the first stage of a long-term recovery effort. CRS has committed $500,000 to the relief effort thus far.

"Thanks to ferries that are up and running and more roads being cleared, we're accessing areas that have yet to receive any aid. Some have been nearly flattened, and people are desperate. They are protecting their families with whatever is available, sleeping under bits of salvaged wood and twisted corrugated iron. Food is critical - whatever they took with them to the cyclone shelter has run out and they have nowhere to turn," said Cassie Dummett, CRS Bangladesh Country Manager in Barisal.

Today, CRS/Caritas started distributing food to 6,000 people in Kalapara. In the devastated areas around Barisal, CRS/Caritas distributions will reach 21,500 people in the next four days, with another 35,000 people set to receive food rations in the Khulna district by the end of the week. Distributions by CRS/Caritas began within the first 36 hours of the cyclone.

"In coastal areas, much of the land has been turned into ponds for prawn farming. People take loans from big businessmen to get started and now they have not only lost their sources of food and income, but are also hugely in debt. Women earned money from selling rice, weaving or fishing. Now they have nothing," said Dummett.

Aid workers available for interviews:

In Barisal: Cassie Dummett, CRS Bangladesh Country Manager: +88.0.11.99.812.366 OR +88.0.17.15.050.188

In Barisal: Snigdha Chakraborty, CRS Regional Program Manager: +88.0.17.15.050.188

In Delhi: Caroline Brennan, CRS Regional Information Officer: +91.93.50.96.79.99 / cbrennan@crsindia.org

In the U.S.: John Rivera, CRS Senior Communications Officer: Tel: 443.604.2918 / jrivera@crs.org

How to Help: Donate via phone: 1-877-HELP-CRS Donate online: www.crs.org Write a check: Catholic Relief Services P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, Maryland 21203-7090 Memo portion of check: South Asia Severe Weather Fund

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CRS has supported emergency and long-term development programs in Bangladesh since 1971. Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency provides assistance to people in more than 100 countries and territories based on need, regardless of race, nationality or creed.