US sends help to Bangladesh cyclone victims

The White House offered condolences today to victims of the deadly cyclone in Bangladesh and said the government had provided an initial $2.1m (€1.4m) in emergency aid.

A statement from press secretary Dana Perino said the USS Essex and the USS Kearsage were on their way to Bangladesh to help and that the US would airlift 35 tons of non-food items such as plastic sheeting, jerrycans, hygiene kits and other supplies.