Silver Spring, Maryland--The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is on the ground and assessing the immediate needs of survivors after Cyclone Sidr made landfall over the low-lying southwestern coast of Bangladesh on Thursday, November 15.

Emergency response teams based out of the ADRA Bangladesh office in Dhaka are evaluating storm damage and determining the most urgent needs in cyclone-affected areas. Once assessments are completed, ADRA will initiate an emergency response to meet the immediate needs of survivors, which are expected to include food, water, shelter, and clothing.

As the cyclone headed northeast over Bangladesh, Sidr's Category Four winds and heavy rains destroyed thousands of homes and crops, leaving large areas without electricity or communications service. Latest news reports indicate at least 1,100 have died as a result of the storm, while at least 650,000 people have been left homeless.

To donate to ADRA's emergency response effort to aid survivors of Cyclone Sidr and other natural disasters, please contact ADRA at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or donate online to ADRA's Emergency Response fund at www.adra.org.

Updates will be released as ADRA's response efforts expand.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

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Media Contact: Kara Watkins ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.6357 Mobile: 301.526.2625 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org