| Location: | Kulna, Bangladesh |
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| Category: | Emergency Aid & Crisis Relief |
| Published: | 20 November 2007 |
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The destruction caused by the storm has proven to be even more serious than originally predicted. Cyclone Sidr carried winds up to 250 kilometers an hour, and created a five-meter sea surge which completely obliterated three seaside towns. Authorities succeeded in getting 600,000 people into shelters before the cyclone slammed into Bangladesh, but some 3.2 million people live in the vulnerable coastal areas so casualties are inevitable.
The death toll from the storm has already risen above 1,600, and is expected to go higher. Communications have been completely cut in the worst hit areas, where many people were wounded by flying debris, and others are listed as missing. The true toll will probably not be known for several days.
“We are hopeful that emergency preparedness is in place and quick action has successfully reduced the loss of human life" says Suman SMA Islam, CARE’s humanitarian assistance coordinator in Bangladesh, "but many people are now homeless, crops and livelihoods have been destroyed and this is going to put great pressure on the government, the economy, and the people themselves - particularly as this comes only a few months after floods devasted the northern part of the country”.
CARE was on the scene working with government authorities and local partners to provide needed relief supplies and safe drinking water. As the results of the initial assessments start to come in the concern is that, given the level of destruction caused by Cyclone Sidr, much more assistance is going to be needed as people try to piece their lives back together.
The death toll from the storm has already risen above 1,600, and is expected to go higher. Communications have been completely cut in the worst hit areas, where many people were wounded by flying debris, and others are listed as missing. The true toll will probably not be known for several days.
“We are hopeful that emergency preparedness is in place and quick action has successfully reduced the loss of human life" says Suman SMA Islam, CARE’s humanitarian assistance coordinator in Bangladesh, "but many people are now homeless, crops and livelihoods have been destroyed and this is going to put great pressure on the government, the economy, and the people themselves - particularly as this comes only a few months after floods devasted the northern part of the country”.
CARE was on the scene working with government authorities and local partners to provide needed relief supplies and safe drinking water. As the results of the initial assessments start to come in the concern is that, given the level of destruction caused by Cyclone Sidr, much more assistance is going to be needed as people try to piece their lives back together.
