The effects of Cyclone Sidr, which struck Bangladesh on 15th November, are devastating. Populations in the south of the country have lost everything and addressing humanitarian needs is a priority. Action Against Hunger's teams have launched an emergency operation in the Burguna district, one of the districts most affected by the disaster.
Immense needs and huge distress in Barguna district
Nearly 100,000 families have been affected by the catastrophe in the Barguna district. Despite the large-scale mobilization of the Bangladesh government, the basic needs of many families are not being met. As Franck Lepaul, member of Action Against Hunger's emergency response team, comments: "This is a truly disastrous situation with people having lost everything and not having access to food or drinking water. Affected populations find themselves in an extremely precarious situation; they have lost their homes; many have lost their family members and have been displaced. Addressing the needs of people in the most affected areas is a priority."
Improving access to water, hygiene and food
Action Against Hunger is particularly concerned about the risk of diarrhoeal diseases due to lack of access to drinking water and hygiene. Surface water and water points were contaminated when the cyclone battered coastal areas. In addition, there is little access to food: 95% of stocks and harvests were destroyed, livestock was killed, and fields were ruined in a region where most people are farmers or fishermen. In view of all these difficulties, Action Against Hunger's teams are concerned about the nutritional situation of the most vulnerable people, especially children.
A race against time
"Humanitarian organisations such as Action Against Hunger are racing against time to provide assistance to affected populations and prevent the humanitarian situation from deteriorating. All logistical means are being used to access affected populations, including boats and helicopters. Both the access to vulnerable populations and the transporting of aid supplies in record time to respond to urgent needs is a major challenge," comments Franck Lepaul. Action Against Hunger's teams are supporting their Bangladeshi partners with activities including the rehabilitation of wells, the distribution of water chlorination kits and the construction of latrines.
Some 6.8 million people have been affected by the disaster. More than 3,000 people have died. 1,000 people have disappeared and approximately 15,000 people have been injured.(1)
Action Against Hunger has launched a Bangladesh Cyclone Emergency Appeal. To make a donation, please visit www.aahuk.org or call 020 8293 6190.
-ENDS-
1)Government source
Press contacts:
Christine Kahmann: 0044 (0)208 293 6197 / c.kahmann@aahuk.org
Sylvain Trottier: 0033 (0)143 358224 / strottier@actioncontrelafaim.org
Action Against Hunger (also known as ACF or Action contre la Faim) is an international humanitarian organisation, working in 43 of the world's poorest countries. Its vocation is to save lives, especially those of malnourished children, and to work with vulnerable populations to preserve and restore their livelihoods with dignity.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
