GENEVA, November 16, 2007--Cyclone Sidr hit southern Bangladesh on November 15, 2007 crossing the Khulna and Barisal coasts around 7:30pm (local time) with a high tidal surge and winds of over 210 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour).

Severely affected coastal districts include Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Narail, Gopalganj, Jessore, Borguna, Patuakhali, Perojpur, Jhalakati, Barisal, Bhola, Luxmipur, Noakhali, Feni, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.

Initial reports suggest that the cyclone caused extensive damage to houses, crops, school buildings, roads, trees, and has disrupted electricity and telecommunication systems. People were evacuated to cyclone shelters, school buildings and other available facilities over the past two days. In many places, people are also living without shelter or protection.

Government and non-government sources have provided initial dry food rations, cash grants and blankets.

ACT members report the following:

Bangladesh

ACT member, Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB), formed an Emergency Monitoring Team on November 14 to maintain constant contact with project offices in the districts of Cox's Bazar, Barisal, Gopalganj, Gournadi and Jessore. CCDB staff have already started the initial assessment of the damage caused by the cyclone.

CCDB reports that two ongoing project areas in Gopalganj and Gournadi have been badly affected with people facing an acute shortage of food, shelter, clothing and water.

Prior to the cyclone making landfall, the ACT Bangladesh Forum met on the morning of November 15 to determine preparedness for a possible response. On November 16, CCDB held a meeting with ACT member, Christian Aid, and some of its local implementing partners to review the latest situation and the initial plans for a response.

CCDB reports that people on the island of Moheshkali were evacuated to cyclone shelters, including 44 shelters constructed by CCDB following the devastating 1991 Bangladesh cyclone.

Through its partners, Christian Aid had already been working in the cyclone-affected coastal areas through a community-based disaster preparedness project.

ACT members in Bangladesh with current programs in areas likely to have been most affected by the cyclone include CCDB, Christian Aid, Church of Banglandesh (CoB), KOINONIA and Lutheran Health Care Bangladesh (LHCB).

India

ACT member, Lutheran World Service India (LWSI), reports that only a few mud houses were damaged in the Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh. ACT member, Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), reports that nearly 30,000 people were evacuated as a precaution in Orissa and that the cyclone caused some damage on the Sunderban islands in West Bengal.

The ACT CO will remain in contact with members in Bangladesh and will notify the alliance of any further plans for a response.

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Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

For further information, please contact:

Callie Long, ACT Communications Officer (office: +41 22 791 6039 / mobile: +41 79 358 3171)

Sidney Traynham, ACT Assistant Communications Officer (office: +41 22 791 6711 / mobile: +41 79 681 1868)