Support Save the Children New Zealand's response to the cyclone in Bangladesh

Save the Children New Zealand is sending NZ$25,000 to support initial relief efforts following the devastating effects of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh.

Tens of thousands of families in Bangladesh - including many children - are in immediate need of assistance after surviving the worst cyclone of the past decade, according to Emergency responders on the scene. Extensive emergency preparations saved tens of thousands of lives despite a fierce cyclone that struck the south-western coast of Bangladesh on Thursday with strength similar to a storm that killed 140,000 people in Bangladesh in 1991.

While the death toll is much lower than in 1991, the cyclone still has impacted hundreds of thousands of people, destroying more than 40,000 homes, killing well over 2,300 people, shutting down electric power for a million people and creating serious health problems for survivors, especially in the low-lying areas.

"The good news is that many people have survived this disaster, especially compared to past cyclones, but the bad news is that most survivors on the coastal areas are left with nothing," said Save the Children NZ Executive Director John Bowis.
"Many families have lost everything, including their homes and their crops, and they are struggling to survive," Bowis said. "We are appealing to the public to support our efforts to assist children and families affected by this disaster. We remain very concerned about possible outbreaks of cholera and severe diarrhoea due to the lack of access to clean water."

Save the Children has begun distributing thousands of essential items for survival including food, plastic sheeting, water containers, and basic treatment for diarrhoea as well as thousands of blankets and 100,000 water purification tablets.

In one area Save the Children staff have used boats to ferry 2,000 litres of purified water across flooded riverways to affected households. It also is operating three water ambulances to transfer injured patients to health facilities.

Save the Children is coordinating with local authorities and has dispatched 19 teams to assist in relief efforts.
Prior to the storm, Save the Children deployed equipment, including zodiac rescue boats, to the impact area, and mobilised food and water-purification resources.

Save the Children has been working in Bangladesh since 1972 and in recent years has worked closely with local and national authorities to prepare coastal communities for a severe cyclone such as this. It conducted an emergency cyclone drill for some 10,000 residents living in the area where the cyclone struck as part of its own preparations.

Save the Children New Zealand directly supports a number of projects in Bangladesh, including a child rights and life skills development project in the Cox’s Bazaar and Chittagong coastal area of the country.

Save the Children implements disaster risk-reduction programmes in addition to conducting emergency relief efforts around the world. It also provided relief and assisted with recovery efforts after floods left nearly two-thirds of Bangladesh under water in June and July.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

•    Call Save the Children Emergency Appeal Line 0800 167 168 to make a donation
•    Visit our website and donate: www.savethechildren.org.nz
•    Donate at your local Save the Children shop