Ooops, the BanglaDitch!

Lots has happened in the last few days, some of it good. We travelled from Dhaka by overnite steamer, sort of a throwback, with a waterside deck cabin a whole $10 for the overnite 10 hour sailing. A bit chaotic getting through traffic to the ship, and discussing tickets, etc ( all signs in Bangla), but trip was fine, although arriving in a smaller city in the dark at 5 AM proved a bit challenging.

We've been off assessing multiple communities for damage, and to visit with NGO's, and local folks.

"Highlight" of the visit to Pathagharkata, during a walking tour from the village to some out homes, was my crash from the "log bridge" after the railing let go, plunging me about 8' into a nasty ditch, filled with.... well, let's just say a nasty ditch. After much scrambling, water splashing, etc I shed  my clothes to don the Bangladeshi style sari-for-men, called a lungi. Very stylish.

We've visited 3 areas in depth, seen half a dozen destroyed schools and hundreds of homes, and travelled hours over congested Bangla  roads; a mix of rickshaws, cars, trucks and buses that is  an event in itself.

Effective meetings with Unicef, SaveTheChildren, Koinonia, and other NGO's indicate there is plenty of need, but also a strong international response.

One observation from the trip is the extraordinary  success of the system of cyclone shelters that were built after the last major event, in 1991. That cyclone claimed over 140,000 deaths - the current toll for Sidr is about 4,000. Most people used the shelters, concrete reinforced, elevated buildings that can pack in about 1,000 people, and that are used as training schools or daycare in normal times.

It looks like I will cut my trip short to have some time at home to communicate our fund raising needs, if we deploy. We're getting very tight on cash, but this is a significant need, and I believe our volunteers would respond. Please be prepared  to help out!