Salvation Army responds to Bangladesh cyclone disaster
On Monday night, 19 November, Captain Kalyan Bapari, 39, Executive Director of The Salvation Army's Integrated Children's Centre in Savar, Bangladesh, assesses needs following Cyclone Sidr. He is speaking with tea-sellerShapan Roy (left), 28, and Nitesh Bala (right), 25, in the village of Pirerbari in the hard-hit Gobalgong district. While no one in the village died during the storm, 90% of the homes were destroyed.
AS families in Bangladesh struggle to cope following the pounding inflicted by Cyclone Sidr, Salvation Army relief teams are working to support those impacted in the Gopalgong region. Around 3,000 people are known to have lost their lives because of Cyclone Sidr – the worst storm to hit the region in more than a decade – but some aid agencies estimate that the final figure will be nearer to 15,000. Those people who survived the cyclone are now trying to cope without shelter, food, clean water or power. It is reported that a million people have been made homeless.
Lieut-Colonel Ethne Flintoff, The Salvation Army's Officer Commanding for Bangladesh, today told the International Emergency Services team that the greatest needs are 'food, and rice seeds to enable families to replant'. She explained: 'The immediate need is food. This afternoon I learned that a little dry food (flaked rice and raw sugar) has been distributed through the local government to affected people in some of the area. They are able to cook now as wood is drying out – and there will be plenty of wood from fallen trees. Another short-term need is for rice seeds for farmers to replant their crops as soon as possible. There is need for urgent replanting before it is too late in the season.
'Once these essential relief supplies are in place we will be distributing roofing materials and bamboo to help families rebuild their homes and livestock to replace animals killed in the floods. In the area where we are working most houses collapsed or lost roofs but people managed to save their possessions. We are working closely with the local village leaders and identifying those most in need.'
Major Mike Caffull, International Emergency Services Field Operations Officer, reports: ‘Our teams in Bangladesh are very experienced as the region suffers regularly from cyclones. However, this is the worst one for many years and the extent of the damage is immense.’
Major Cedric Hills, International Emergency Services Coordinator, adds: 'In response to the immediate needs International Headquarters has released US$100,000. However, the damage is extensive and reconstruction needs will be great. This initial support will be used up all too quickly. As the assessment team are granted more access to the impacted areas, greater needs are unfolding.’
An appeal for support has been launched and donors are invited to send funds to the ‘Bangladesh Cyclone and Flood Appeal’ at Salvation Army International Headquarters.