"The dumping site has been cordoned, and the relevant authorities have been asked not to dump rotten rice at unrestricted spots anymore," a security official said.

Hundreds of poor people thronged the dumping site as the Food Department started ditching some 500 tonnes of damaged rice on Friday.

Nearly half of Bangladesh's 140 million

DHAKA, April 12, 2008 (AFP) - About 20,000 workers rioted over high food prices and low wages on Saturday close to the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, police said, amid spreading global unrest over soaring grocery costs.

Police fired tear gas and used batons to break up the protests and at least 50 people were injured, most of them police officers.

About 20,000 textile workers from more than a dozen factories went on the rampage in Fatullah, 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Dhaka, demanding better pay amid soaring rice prices, police chief Bhuiyan Mahbub Hasan said.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is pleased to acknowledge the receipt of six new contributions totaling $29,317,432.53 (as of 30 September). The contributions were made by Brazil ($30,000), Italy ($1,290,100), Luxembourg ($5,610,800), Monaco ($35,000), Spain ($20,692,484) and Switzerland ($1,659,048.53). Furthermore, Mexico pledged $50,000 for 2007. OCHA encourages all Member States to turn their pledges into contributions as soon as possible.

Country highlights

In September 2007, the Emergency Relief

As international aid organizationshurry to respond,flood survivors in Pakistanare in need of shelter, food, medicine, blankets, and daily necessities.Today's reports of the country's unsettled political state surrounding national elections adds to thealready uncertain and difficult situationof millions of Pakistani people.

In mid-June, Cyclone Yemyin battered the Southwest coast of Pakistan along theGulf of Oman, leaving 1.5 million homeless. Weeks of nearly constant and dangerous rains have destroyed

July 23, 2007, Vienna, Austria - The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has approved a grant of US$1 million to provide essential relief supplies and support emergency operation for victims of a spate of natural disasters in South Asia. At least three million people across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have been affected by the recent severe monsoon rains, heavy flooding, tornadoes and landslides.

The grant, to be channeled through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, will

2. In Myanmar, since last month, areas surrounding the Sittwe district, Rakhine State, near the border with Bangladesh were caught in a severe storm, affecting more than 10,000 people including 14 dead and 15 missing. The storm has also left public offices including

Damage, Loss and Casualty Report

(Source: Deputy Commissioner, Cox's Bazar)

Chokoria Upazila: Not much damage caused.

Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila: over 800 houses and one educational institution were damaged.

Ramu Upazila: Over 600 houses, 19 educational institutions and 410 batel-leaf farms were partially damaged.

Pekua Upazila: The embankment of Water Development Board partially broke and in Amin Bazar tidal water entered in high speed through the sluice-gate and created damage in the embankment.

Kutubdia Upazila: 20 houses were

Initial reports said the cyclone code named "Akash" swept over the St. Martin Island in the Bay of Bengal with a wind speed of 150 kms Monday night.

According to UNB, at least 12 fishing boats were caught in the storm Monday night. Two boats sank while 10 others with 30 to 40 fishermen were missing.