Emergencies - Save the Children New Zealand

To date, Save the Children has provided emergency relief to more 130,000 families affected by cyclone Sidr, which struck the southern coast of Bangladesh on November 15, 2007. We are working in eight districts of Barisal and Khulna divisions along the southern coast of Bangladesh. We have opened 42 child friendly spaces benefiting 4,500 children and are conducting health activities in partnership with local NGOs, community volunteers and the government health department.

To date, Save the Children has distributed:

Family food packs to 9,050 families(rice, lentils, cooking oil, salt and potato)
Household items to 9,600 families
High energy biscuits to 190,520 families
Blankets to 7,668 families
Water to 13,950 families
Halo tabs for water purification to 9,332 families
28,000 oral rehydration solution packets

In addition:

Save the Children moved two water plants from Bhola and Jalakhathi districts to more affected areas in Barguna and Pathuakhali districts. An additional water plant has been installed in Barguna district. As of November 25, the plants have provided a total of 61,500 litres of water to 5,727 families. An additional four water plants are expected soon. A partner organization, Muslim Aid, is providing drinking water at a safe play space through a water purification plant in Bagerhat districts. Government medical teams are providing medical assistance at 12 child friendly spaces, along with Save the Children medical staff. Save the Children is working with BRAC, a national NGO, to prioritise medicines for immediate use, including antibiotics, oral rehydration salts and ointments for skin and eye infections.

Save the Children’s community health volunteers continue to distribute oral rehydration salts, provide education about health and hygiene and conduct disease surveillance. About 300 volunteers are working to identify families for possible health interventions in Barisal. Forty-two child friendly spaces have been opened in five districts of Barisal and Khulna divisions benefiting 4,500 children. Thirty of these spaces are operated by a local partner in Barisal district. The remaining 12 in Khulna and Barisal divisions provide 3,000 children with one hot meal a day and basic medical care, in addition to play and recreational activities.

Government of Bangladesh (GoB) official estimates of cyclone Sidr damages stand at 6.7 million people affected with a death toll of 3,033 people, a further 1,828 missing and 34,511 injured. Over 363,346 homes were destroyed and a further 815,628 houses were partially damaged. More than 1.6 million acres of crops are damaged and over 462,815 livestock (a critical household asset) were killed. Extensive damage to roads and public buildings was reported, including 1,355 educational institutions destroyed and another 7,847 partially damaged. Save the Children staff in Barguna district report that a large number of people from remote villages where aid has not reached are gathering near the main highway to ask for relief. They report entire villages being washed away with residents scattered by the floods and large numbers of people injured and missing. This indicates that there are a large number of people still in need of assistance.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Donate online click the box for Specific Appeal and type in Bangladesh Cyclone
Call Save the Children Emergency Appeal Lines: 0800 167 168 to make a donation of your choice
Donate at your local Save the Children shop

MORE INFORMATION

Save the Children and CNN visit Bangladesh to assess the damage of Cyclone Sidr. Watch the video
To watch the 20 min version of the video click here
Meet Salma, a mother of four small children, who evacuated her home as Cyclone Sidr struck click here
To learn more about 12-year old Nazma, click here and read her survivor's story
To view the photo gallery click here