As communities across southern Bangladesh continue to piece together lives shattered by Cyclone Sidr, stories of bravery and humanity amidst destruction and despair are beginning to emerge.
Late last week, as the storm made its way towards the coast, Bangladesh Red Crescent volunteers set about warning hundreds of thousands of people living in its path, and shepherding them to shelters.
Rabu, 18, is a Red Crescent volunteer. She lives in a sturdy, two-storey house with her family. By the time the storm arrived, many people in her community were still without shelter. Rabu was able to shelter about 220 of her neighbours in her family's home.
But there was one ninety year old woman who refused to move from her house," Rabu remembers. "She did not want to leave her own home.""As the cyclone got stronger, I couldn't take it anymore."
With the help of her sister, Rabu forcefully took the old lady and carried her to her 'cyclone shelter'. The next day, they returned to the old woman's home and found it in pieces.
But tragedy was never far away, even for volunteers. Anwar Hossain is a team leader for the Bangladesh Red Crescent's cyclone preparedness programme in Patuakhali District.As he was busy helping evacuate people to cyclone shelters his parents were washed away by a tidal surge.
"When I got back to my house I found it under neck-deep water and my parents were missing," he recalls. When the storm passed, and as Anwar was helping to rescue people who were injured or trapped, word arrived that his mother's body had been found.
In all, more than 30,000 volunteers have been involved in the massive Red Cross Red Crescent humanitarian response, both during the initial early warning and evacuation phase and now in support of relief and rescue efforts.
Whilst efforts continue to reach and assist isolated communities, the Red Cross Red Crescent is already looking towards the longer term recovery needs of those affected by Sidr.
"When a disaster like Sidr strikes, it doesn't only cause loss of life and property," explained Al Panico, the International Federation's regional representative for South Asia. "It can also take away, or threaten, the livelihoods and future of those who have survived.
"Helping communities to recover - to rebuild their homes, services and lives - is complex but essential that continues long after emergency relief has been provided."
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
