Last Monday, Cyclone Aila swept up from the Indian Ocean and struck India and Bangladesh devastating villages as far as 400 miles inland.  Alongside the 325 confirmed fatalities and 8,000 still missing, it is now estimated that over a million people have been left homeless.

Despite the numbers affected, media coverage of this humanitarian emergency has been sparse at best and we are urgently trying to raise awareness of the need for assistance for those affected.

CINI is working as quickly as possible to meet the needs of those affected, but we need support to provide basic provisions.  In Maipith Island 20,000 of the 65,000 inhabitants have sought refuge in schools and community centres after seeing their homes swept away in the floods.  They are in urgent need of shelter, food, clean water, bedding, clothes as well as mosquito nets and medicines to fight the increased risk of disease.

To give you an idea of the costs involved:

- Protective sheets from which families can build their own shelters cost £11 per family
- Family sized mosquito nets costs £4 per family
- Food will cost 28p per person per day

Funds are urgently needed for this relief effort.  Please give generously!

Thanks for your help

Anna Taylor - Director of CINI UK