BURBANK, California (March 24, 2005) – Islamic Relief Worldwide’s staff in

Bangladesh is responding to the deadly tornado that swept through fifteen

villages in northern Bangladesh this past weekend.

At least 47 people are confirmed dead so far, and officials on the ground are

reporting that the death toll could rise further as around 120 people still

remain in hospitals with serious injuries. Over 8,000 people were left homeless

as their homes were flattened to the ground.

The tornado, which was accompanied by a hailstorm, flattened homes,

destroyed crops, uprooted hundreds of trees and electricity poles and cut off

communications to the 15 villages, located in one of the most impoverished

parts of the country.

Islamic Relief Worldwide immediately responded to the disaster, providing food

and emergency medical aid to 20,000 victims.

Islamic Relief Worldwide has been working in Bangladesh since 1991, and

currently operates a wide array of projects in the country, including

vocational training, water and sanitation, education, orphan support, and

micro-credit loan programs.