Situation and Damage

1. Severe winds accompanied by heavy rains swept across Bangladesh on 27 May 2000. According to the Office of the UN Resident Co-ordinator in Dhaka, no official damage report from the Bangladeshi Government is available so far. However, the media reports that 36 people were killed in 11 districts.

2. In the capital, Dhaka, the strong storms with a maximum wind speed exceeding 70 km/h, had a devastating effect

Preparations for flood and disaster early warning systems were reviewed at a disaster management ministry meeting, a ministry spokesman told AFP.

Army representatives and weather experts attended the meeting, which also reviewed the possible supply of relief materials should disaster strike.

Weather experts said they feared a deluge in the next month after early monsoon rains and the "La Nina"

Three victims died in northern Tangail district and three more in northeastern Moulvibazar which were battered by hail storms Tuesday, Inqilab and other local dailies reported, adding several other districts were also hit.

The Bengali-language Sangbad said the storms damaged nearly 12,000 homes and destroyed 15,000 hectares (37.500

Disaster Situation

1. On 21 April a ferocious northwesterly wind travelling at a speed of 120 kilometres an hour traversed the Districts of Netrokona and Rangpur in the north of Bangladesh. According to a report issued on 27 April by the Disaster Forum, a platform for several non-government organizations present in Bangladesh, the wind and accompanying hailstorm held for about an hour over the two Districts.

2. A vast area of low-lying flood plains