BANGLADESH- Cyclone Sidr devastated Bangladesh, displacing over two million people. Its 15-foot water surge killed over 3,500 people and left thousands missing and injured. Their lives were shattered, and many of the survivors lost everything.

World Emergency Relief's (WER) family works with local organizations to fight poverty and hunger, and provide relief for disaster victims. WER's local partner did an initial damage and need assessment in Bangladesh, November 16th -18th. They discovered grim results - most local food sources, such as crops, livestock and fish ponds, were severely damaged or destroyed, as were people's huts and many schools. These survivors desperately need our aid.

WER's heart went out to the thousands of struggling children and families. We know how hard it is to piece lives back together in the wake of a disaster. Determined to help, WER is shipping a 40-foot container of blankets, children's clothing, medical supplies, and educational supplies and equipment.

Our clothing and other relief supplies will be distributed among 5,000 needy families in Sadar Thana and Mongla Thana, towns in areas hit hardest by the cyclone. These families are the poorest of the poor, including orphans, elderly, the sick and the disabled. The other emergency supplies will be distributed to local facilities that serve needy and impoverished people in cyclone-stricken areas.

The medical supplies will help support a mother and infant hospital and will also be used to expand the men's ward. Medical supplies will also be shared with a free dental clinic that serves impoverished families. The educational supplies and equipment will help stock a temporary school program while the original school (that was destroyed by the cyclone) is being rebuilt.

World Emergency Relief is a global family of seven charities sharing a common vision and core values. WER's vision is "giving children a living chance," by addressing the practical, emotional, spiritual, educational and economic needs of children, their families and their communities. For more information about World Emergency Relief, please visit our website, www.worldemergencyrelief.org or call (760) 930-8001 or (888) HUG-4-KID (toll free). Donations can be sent to: World Emergency Relief, P.O. Box 131570, Carlsbad, CA 92013.