Community Life

Phones are ringing all time of the day and week at Muslim Aid's offices next to the East London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel.

The charity has 70 staff and 1,000 volunteers in three of the worst affected regions of Bangladesh. More than 3,000 people have already been killed as a result of the cyclone.

Muslim Aid has raised a sixth of its target £3 million in relief aid so far, and says that the large local Bangladeshi in Tower Hamlets community has been instrumental in the efforts.

The heads of Tower Hamlets Council released a statement when the cyclone hit: "Many Tower Hamlets residents have strong links with this part of the world and our thoughts are with them, their families and friends."

Taking food to cyclone victims

Devastating conditions

Abdul Jolil Miah, fundraising manager at Muslim Aid has visited the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka. "Almost every family has lost someone. The scale of devastation is unimaginable and much worse than I thought. The people here desperately need help," he said.

So far the charity's work has included building water purification systems, running a mobile hospital and providing 800 people a day with food.

Bangladeshi TV station, Channel S, accompanied relief workers from Muslim Aid in the cyclone-hit areas. To see their footage and hear from an aid worker in the charity's east London office, click on the video link above.

To make a donation to Muslim Aid you can call 020 7377 4200.

angela.saini@bbc.co.uk