Restaurants back Bangladesh cyclone fund (From This is Hampshire)

Restaurants back Bangladesh cyclone fund

3:00pm Saturday 24th November 2007 in

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RESTAURANTS across Southampton are launching appeals to help bring aid to people in Bangladesh who have been left devastated by the deadly Cyclone Sidr.

So far around more than 3,100 people have reportedly been killed and an estimated five million people have had their homes destroyed or damaged and have been left without food, clean water and power.

To help with the worldwide aid effort restaurant owner Kuti Miah said he is collecting donations and planning a series of charity events.

"I know people out there who have lost everything. Many people are still missing and so much has been devastated," he said.

Kuti, who is from Bangladesh, said that he knew an MP in the Pirojpur region of the country which is one of those worst affected.

It is the latest charity appeal from the restaurateur, who owns establishments in Oxford Street, Southampton, Fair Oak and Wickham, who regularly supports local hospitals and cancer charities.

He said: "I am urging the people of Southampton to help the people of Bangladesh. We are planning some charity events soon to raise money.

"In the meantime we will be accepting donations at the restaurants so we can send it directly to the people who need it without having to go through agencies."

Also raising money for the disaster-hit country is The Tiffin Club in Oxford Street which will be holding a fundraising art exhibition on December 3.

The restaurant has teamed up with The Noble Sage, the first London art gallery to specialise in Indian art, to bring the exclusive show to art lovers in Southampton with five per cent of sales being donated to victims of the cyclone.

POSH Restaurant in Queensway, Southampton, is organising a special three-course buffet in early January, with a Motown DJ and a live band.

Tickets are priced at £15 and organisers hope to get 200 people to attend and raise some £2,000 for the appeal.

Owner Manoj Rainchura said: "There's a lot of poverty-stricken people out there. I think we should all contribute to helping them."

Yesterday psychiatrist and broadcaster Dr Raj Persaud and Dead Ringers star Jan Ravens were among the celebrities manning the Disaster Emergency Committee Bangladesh Cyclone appeal donations hotline at BT Tower in central London.

Dr Persaud said: "When the cameras leave Bangladesh the devastation will remain. Without money from the British public, the physical and psychological aftermath of this cyclone could last a generation."

The number of people killed in the disaster is expected to rise and Bangladesh's Red Crescent Society says up to 10,000 may have been killed. Cyclone Sidr, which struck late on Thursday last week, had winds of up to 150mph and created a tidal surge of several metres.

Anyone organising a fundraising event should contact Corey Stephenson at the Daily Echo on 023 8042 4503 or email corey.stephenson@dailyecho.co.uk.