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/ 6 May 2008

Burma: Killer wave claims thousands

A powerful cyclone that slammed into Burma’s Irrawaddy Delta triggered a massive wave that gave people nowhere to run, killing at least 15 000 and leaving 30 000 others missing, officials said on Tuesday. ”More deaths were caused by the tidal wave than the storm itself,” Minister for Relief and Resettlement Maung Maung Swe told a news conference.

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/ 15 April 2008

Plane crashes in DRC town

A passenger plane carrying 85 people crashed into a crowded neighbourhood in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) town of Goma on Tuesday, and only six survivors have been found so far, government officials said. Smoke engulfed the charred ruins of the aircraft, which appeared to have broken in two.

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/ 19 November 2007

Tragedy unfolds in Bangladesh

Four days after Cyclone Sidr killed more than 2 500 people in Bangladesh, rescuers were struggling to reach isolated areas along the country’s devastated coast and give aid to millions of survivors. ”The tragedy unfolds as we walk through one after another devastated village,” said relief worker Mohammad Selim in Bagerhat, one of the worst-hit areas.

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/ 17 November 2007

Bangladesh cyclone toll nears 1 000

A powerful cyclone ripped through Bangladesh on Friday leaving a trail of destruction that claimed an estimated 1 000 lives and caused hundreds of thousands to flee the strong winds and driving rain. Cyclone Sidr crashed into the south-western coast after racing up the Bay of Bengal at 240km/h and triggered a 5m-high tidal wave.

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/ 27 September 2007

Aid agency reduces Darfur operations after attacks

Relief agency World Vision has scaled back its operations in South Darfur after its staff suffered three attacks within a week, an agency official said on Thursday. ”World Vision has not suspended operations — we have scaled down,” Michael Arunga, communications manager for World Vision, told Reuters. ”There have been three attacks in one week.”

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/ 28 August 2007

Natural disasters ‘more destructive than wars’

Natural disasters are far more destructive than wars, and the damage will only worsen unless drastic change is taken to address global climate change, a former United Nations humanitarian chief said on Tuesday. "Already seven times more livelihoods are devastated by natural disasters than by war worldwide, and this is going to get worse," Jan Egeland said.