People affected by cyclone Sidr sit in line and wait to receive aid materials at Gabtala village, Bangladesh, 23 Nov 2007

A U.S. Navy ship has arrived in Bangladesh to assist in relief efforts, after last week's cyclone killed more than 3,500 people and displaced at least two million others.

U.S. military officials Friday said the USS Kearsarge has docked off of Bangladesh's coast, with a second ship due to arrive in the next day or two.

The ships are carrying helicopters to deliver much needed supplies to the thousands who have had little access to shelter, food or clean water. The ships will coordinate with the Bangladeshi military.

Many survivors of Cyclone Sidr continue to face disease and starvation. In some places, people are already suffering from water-borne illnesses such as diarrhea, which can be deadly in children.

Adding to the hunger concerns is the fact that the storm wiped out much of the country's crops and fisheries.

The Bangladeshi government says it has received nearly $400 million in financial aid from the international community, including 250 million from the World Bank.

Relief workers have set up shelters for the scores of children orphaned by the deadly storm.

Cyclone Sidr is the worst natural disaster in Bangladesh since 1991, when a cyclone and storm surge killed around 143,000 people.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.