Bangledesh storm deaths continue to mount

The Bangladesh cyclone death toll today rose through 3,000 with fears of many more to come.

By nightfall, as survivors buried their loved ones and waited for aid to arrive, the official figure was put at 3,113 with reports finally coming in from storm-ravaged areas cut off by washed-out roads and downed phone lines.

The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society warned the toll from tropical cyclone Sidr, the worst cyclone to hit Bangladesh in a decade, could hit 10,000 once rescuers reach outlying islands.

The country’s interim leader Fakhruddin Ahmed toured some of the worst-hit areas Monday, handing out food to survivors and promising, “We will help you as best as we can.”

Helicopters airlifted food to survivors today while rescuers struggled to reach remote areas. The army helicopters carried mostly high-protein biscuits supplied by the World Food Program.

And international aid organisations promised initial packages of 25 million dollars (£12.5 million) during a meeting with Bangladesh agencies.

But items such as tents, rice and water have been slow to reach many. Government officials defended the relief efforts and expressed confidence that authorities are up to the task.

“We have enough food and water,” said Shahidul Islam, the top official in Bagerhat, a battered district near the town of Barguna. “We are going to overcome the problem.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that several million dollars were available from the organisation’s emergency response funds.

He expressed his “profound condolences to the people and government of Bangladesh for the many deaths and the destruction involved, and the full solidarity of the UN system at this time of crisis,” the statement said.

Britain has pledged £2.5 million in aid. Help from other governments include the US, Germany , France and Japan

Every year, storms batter Bangladesh, a country of 150 million, often killing large numbers.