City Council backs aid for Bangladesh

Manchester City Council pledged its support this week to communities devastated by the Bangladesh cyclone disaster.

Speaking at Wednesday's meeting of the council's top-level executive, Deputy Leader Councillor Val Stevens announced the actions being taken by the Council to support the Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal.

More than 5 million people are thought to have been affected by Cyclone Sidr which battered coastal areas of Bangladesh on 15 November. The Disaster Emergency Committee's 13 major aid agencies has launched an appeal to help people left without food and shelter.

Councillor Stevens said: "Our deepest sympathy and concern go out to the people of Bangladesh. They have suffered the most

"So many people have expressed their desire to help. We will be pasting on the City Council website details of the Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal should people wish to make donations.

We will also be sending information to all council employees to raise awareness of the disaster and to let them know how they can help the relief effort. We feel that supporting the Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal is the most efficient way of getting help as fast as possible to the most vulnerable people."

Councillor Stevens added: "Manchester's Lord Mayor, Councillor Glynn Evans, will be sending a message of sympathy to the Bangladeshi High Commissioner. We will be undertaking talks with the local Bangladeshi community and working with partners to see if there are any other ways in which we can help."

The Disasters Emergency Committee agencies are Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.

Donations to the Appeal fund can be made online: www.dec.org.uk/  or via the automated donation telephone line: 0870 60 60 900

Media contacts:

Deborah Grace/Rebecca Kennedy tel, 0161 234 3332