It came with huge, roaring winds, destroying nearly everything in its path. Trees were uprooted, livestock was destroyed, and huts (which are houses to many) were swept away. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) immediately mobilized tens of thousands of volunteers to provide vital humanitarian assistance. The International Federation Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has provided 250,000 Swiss Francs (USD 223,000/152,000 Euro) in vital financial support from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund to support the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society with its immediate, lifesaving response efforts.
“Nothing, there is nothing. How can I describe anything to you, I have no words to describe this,” weeps Taslima Begum, a resident of the Barisal district situated in south-western Bangladesh. “My neighbours’ livestock is destroyed. A big tree branch fell on two of his cows, and they were killed immediately.”
It is not only Barisal that was affected by the treacherous Sidr. Areas in Bagherhat, Potuakhali, Borguna and other communities in the coastal region of Bangladesh are badly affected. Electricity is out and the mobile communications network has been disrupted. It might take weeks for them to be completely restored.
As of the writing of this story, more than 500 lives appear to have been lost along the south western districts of the country. However, it is important to say that it seems lives were also saved during this time of havoc. This was due to the successful evacuation of hundreds and thousands of people by dedicated volunteers from the Cyclone Preparedness Programme. Through the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society alone, more than 30,000 volunteers were mobilized, disseminating evacuation warnings across the coastal belt, stretching about 700 km.
Diligent volunteers of the BDRCS successfully evacuated more than 600,000 people on the night of November 15th, with the help of megaphones, beating drums and assisting those in need. There are nearly 1,800 cyclone shelters along the coastal belt of the country, and people were successfully taken to those shelters. In a coastal area with a population of 16 million people, it was not possible to accommodate them all in the cyclone shelters. Therefore BDRCS volunteers worked round the clock to assign panicked people to makeshift shelters, like local schools.
It appears that loss of property is widespread. Many evacuees won’t be able to go back to their home, as their tinned roof houses were swept away by the cyclone. It is indeed, a matter of grave concern.
The BDRCS, and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have jointly deployed four teams of disaster response specialists to affected areas. They will be making a rapid assessment, evaluating the damage, and taking appropriate action. Seven more teams are on standby, ready to depart from Dhaka. All medical mobile teams have been alerted, ready to assist the injured. In addition, The BDRCS, along with the Federation will soon be providing emergency rescue teams, food relief, medical aid and water sanitation supplies to those in need.
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It came with huge, roaring winds, destroying nearly everything in its path. Trees were uprooted, livestock was destroyed, and huts (which are houses to many) were swept away. (Rafiquar Rahman/Reuters)
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