Photo: Arne Grieg Riisnęs, NCA-ACT
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is providing emergency assistance to Bangladeshi communities affected by Cyclone Sidr. The category 4 storm that hit Bangaladesh on November 15, 2007, has been identified as the second strongest cyclone to make landfall; the worst was in 1991 when a cyclone and storm surge caused the deaths of nearly 143,000 people.
As of yesterday, more than 3,100 people are reported dead but the full extent of the damage and destruction is not yet known. Many areas of the country have roads that have been washed away, and transportations and telecommunications links have been severed.
PDA has committed $50,000 to support the work of our partner, Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB), and other members of ACT International in providing emergency food support including rice, pulses, salt and oil as well as oral rehydration salts for more than 35,500 people in southern Bangladesh.
The initial assistance will ensure two meals a day for at least five days, targeting particularly vulnerable groups of people including widows, children, the elderly, disabled and those without land in the districts of Bagerhat, Barisal, Gopalganj, Khulna and Madarapur.
ACT members are coordinating their efforts with other humanitarian responders and local governments. Over the next several days the Church of Bangladesh will be assessing early recovery and rehabilitation needs and is planning to move directly into interventions, likely including housing and livelihood support.
Although the number of casualties is high, it is lower than in previous disasters due to an evacuation program and network of cyclone shelters. Prior to the storm, CCDB reported that people were evacuated to cyclone shelters, including 44 shelters constructed by CCDB following the devastating 1991 cyclone. PDA provided $130,000 to CCDB to help with the construction of these shelters.
Please continue to lift the country of Bangladesh up in prayer as they struggle to recover from this disaster.
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