BARGUNA, Bangladesh, NOV. 19, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Caritas Bangladesh says clean drinking water, food and shelter materials are pressing needs following the powerful cyclone that battered the country’s southern coastal region.

Tropical Cyclone Sidr struck the southern Asia country Thursday, affecting more than 3 million, and leaving more than 3,000 dead.

Caritas Bangladesh reported Friday that field staff, volunteers and partners have been working to assess damages and identify emergency needs in affected communities, after heavy rains, rolling waves, and powerful winds caused widespread damage.

With telecommunication lines down, efforts to get information from the regions have been difficult, while some areas have yet to be reached.

Akhila D'Rozario, Caritas Bangladesh’s director of disaster management and development, said that "crops were destroyed in waterlogged areas. Fishing communities and day laborers, who usually live from hand to mouth, have lost their sources of income, and thousands of people are too poor to have any food stocks in their homes."

ZE07111907 - 2007-11-19