An aerial view of damage to homes following Cyclone Sidr, which swept into southern Bangladesh on Nov. 15. The storm killed over 3,000 people and has left several hundred thousand homeless. The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge, as well as elements of Amphibious Squadron 8 and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are conducting humanitarian assistance/disaster relief efforts in response to the government of Bangladesh's request for assistance. The Department of Defense effort is part of a larger United States response coordinated by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development.