Aid appeal for Bangladesh victims

The Belle and Sebastian frontman urged Scots to make donations

Scots have been urged to dig deep to help the five million people thought to have been affected by a cyclone in Bangladesh last week.

The Disaster Emergency Committee has launched an appeal to raise funds to help those left without homes or food following the natural disaster.

Stuart Murdoch, the leader singer of Glasgow band Belle and Sebastian, is supporting the campaign.

The cyclone left 3,000 people dead, and a similar number missing.

Malcolm Fleming, chair of DEC in Scotland, said that people on the ground were helping those affected get access to food and clean water, but the clear-up operation could take months.

He said: "Over five million are affected, that's the population of Scotland.

"People have lost their homes, their crops, their possessions and many have lost their loved ones and as they recover they are going to need all the help they can get.

There is still time to avert further deaths and misery if a coordinated campaign of rescue and aid goes ahead Stuart Murdoch Belle and Sebastian

"That's why the Scottish people need to get behind this appeal and we hope they make a donation."

Stuart Murdoch said: "Bangladesh's geography and the poverty of its people make it vulnerable to storms and flooding.

"Even so, the recent cyclone was of extraordinary strength."

He added: "There is still time to avert further deaths and misery if a coordinated campaign of rescue and aid goes ahead."

All of the agencies are working in the area and appealing to the Scottish public to donate to help them with their work.

Money raised will be used for immediate needs such as food, clean water, medicines and shelter.

Agencies involved in the DEC in Scotland include the British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Concern World-wide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Oxfam, Save the Children and Tearfund.