PEOPLE in Oxfordshire can help rebuild homes or provide new shelters for hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis, who are victims of Cyclone Sidr, say Oxfam bosses.

Bangladeshi families are returning to their homes to find devastation following last Thursday's disaster.

An estimated 273,000 homes have been lost, crops have been ruined and there are increasing water and sanitation concerns.

The Oxford-based charity has launched an appeal, hoping to raise £2m in aid.

Heather Blackwell, head of Oxfam in Bangladesh, said: "The scale of this disaster is enormous. Up to three million people are affected.

"We're seeing families who have lost everything. The British public are incredibly generous and we urgently need their support to help us save and rebuild people's lives."

Oxfam has been working with local partners in the country since the cyclone struck, with teams in the worst-hit southern districts of Daerhat, Pirojpur, Barguna and Patuakhali, providing urgent relief such as sanitation and food and water.

The money raised will be used to continue to provide immediate relief to over 80,000 people, including shelters, well and latrine cleaning and debris clearing.

Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest countries and was already suffering from damage caused by severe flooding in July.

Ms Blackwell added: "People here are resilient. However, the scale is such that it will take months for people to be able to return to their normal lives.

"With an estimated 75 per cent of crops in the southern region destroyed, this disaster will require a long-term relief effort.

"Oxfam will be here working with our partners in months to come."

Oxfam is concerned that with an increase in global warming, natural disasters such as the one hitting Bangladesh are becoming more frequent.

Ms Blackwell said: "We have seen an unprecedented number of disasters this year and we have seen time and time again that the world's poorest people are being hit the hardest.

"The public have responded generously this year. We need them to dig deep again as we scale up our crucial work in Bangladesh."

To donate to the Oxfam appeal, call the appeal hotline on 0870 3332500, donate cash or give through credit cards or cheques at any Oxfam shop, or donate online at www.oxfam.org.uk