James East, World Vision Asia Pacific communications

Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 15, 2007—In the face of a monster cyclone that made landfall tonight in Bangladesh, at least half a million people are taking refuge in shelters. World Vision, the international aid agency, is working with volunteers helping to house 20,000 people. Hundreds of thousands of additional people are also fleeing the path of Cyclone Sidr.

World Vision Bangladesh is planning a US $640,000 aid response for 20,000 families covering three programme areas in the Mongla region of southern Bangladesh. Some 20,000 people were already taking refuge in special cyclone-resistant shelters built by the aid agency.

Vince Edwards, National Director for World Vision Bangladesh, said: "We will quickly be putting together a seven-day pack for families. This will include rice, oil, sugar, salt, candles, blankets, mattresses and clothing.

"Some of our staff are staying with the people in the shelters and as soon as the storm passes they will be going out to assess the damage and the needs. They will be distributing the packs to those in need while they do these assessments. If we find that homes have collapsed then we will have to move into assisting with rehabilitation. If that is the case we will scale up our response. Things will become clearer tomorrow morning."

In India, World Vision staff in programme areas in the Kolkatta area were ready to respond, with additional community programme staff and relief team specialists on standby to assist if their help is needed.

The storm, which for a time was classified a Category Five, ground up the Bay of Bengal towards the low-lying coastal areas of Bangladesh - one of the most densely populated nations on earth. It threatened to swamp the country with a storm surge that could be as high as 16 feet.

Most of Bangladesh is made up of deltas and alluvial land and is only a few feet above sea level, making it especially vulnerable to such surges. Wind speeds of 241km gusting to 296 km were being registered before it hit land.

Cylone Sidr also hit India's state of Western Bengal, including Kolkata, with high winds and rains, as well as affect western Myanmar.

The triangular shape of the Bay of Bengal serves to funnel storm surge waters into Bangladesh, with the surge worsened by the shallow bay. Of the 13 deadliest cyclones recorded nine occurred in the Bay of Bengal. The biggest - and the only CAT 5 cyclone to hit Bangladesh - was in 1991. The 30-foot storm surge near the coast of Chittagong killed 143,000. But the biggest killer to hit Bangladesh occurred in 1970 when more than 500,000 people died.

For information on the likely impact and World Vision's response in Bangladesh and India:

Bangladesh

World Vision programme areas in WV Mongla Laudobe and Ashasuni were expected to be the most severely affected by the cyclonic storm. It was in these areas that staff helped evacuate people to the cyclone shelters in coordination with government and trained volunteers.

More than 20,000 people took refuge in 31 World Vision-constructed cyclone shelters and schools that are designed to double as disaster shelters. The 7-day packs will also be targeted at people in these areas. Staff will purchase relief goods from suppliers who have prior agreements to provide goods to World Vision if needed.

The Government of Bangladesh declared the cyclone a 10 (the highest) for the Mongla area.

Bangladesh has a population of 142 million. Nearly 10 million Bangladeshis live along the southern coast.

India

World Vision India's national rapid response team is on standby watching closely the path of the cyclone.

The storm was expected to cross the coast 200 kilometers southeast of Kolkata, a city of 14 million people in the state of West Bengal that houses two World Vision India programmes and a street children's project.

Contacts and for media interviews please phone:

India Franklin Joseph, HEA director Office: +91 44 24807175 Cell: +91 9840783999

Back-up for media calls Jayanth Vincent Communications Director, Office: +91 44 2480 7052 Cell: +91 98400 64165

Bangladesh Mr Theophil Hajong, Director Operations Cell: +88 01711591073 Office: +8802 8815181