Contact: U.S. Agency for International Development Press Office, 202-712-4320; Public Information, 202-712-4810

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 /Standard Newswire/ -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is airlifting much needed emergency supplies from its stockpiles in the United Arab Emirates to the people of Bangladesh who have suffered so greatly after the landfall of Cyclone Sidr. The commodities will include 300 rolls of plastic sheeting for constructing temporary shelters, 5,000 blankets, 2,500 10-liter water jugs, and 2,500 family hygiene kits. The commodities will benefit an estimated 15,000 people.

This airlift of commodities is valued at more than $252,000 including transport and is in addition to the $2.1 million in emergency funds USAID has provided, bringing total USAID assistance to more than $2.35 million for relief and recovery efforts in Bangladesh after the cyclone on Nov. 14.

USAID has also deployed a five-person disaster assessment team to assist with relief and recovery efforts in conjunction with the USAID Mission and U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh. The team is working alongside local authorities to conduct field assessments that will identify additional needs and areas where the United States might be of assistance.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Pacific Command is also assisting with relief efforts in Bangladesh. An 18-person DOD medical team was in Bangladesh prior to the cyclone, and that team is now assisting in relief efforts. DOD has also deployed a 23-member Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team to Bangladesh that will identify key areas, scope and duration of support. The U.S. Navy ships U.S.S. Kearsarge and U.S.S. Essex are en route to Bangladesh to assist as well.

For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.