A crowd gathers as construction for cyclone-resistant shelters designed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) breaks ground.
(Photo credit: Yuyiko Saito/IFRC) |
Response to Bangladesh Cyclone
Overview
Large-scale operations in response to Cyclone Sidr in November 2007 continue to assist thousands of affected families in Bangladesh. As of March 2007, the Government of Bangladesh and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reported:
- 8.9 million people affected
- More than 3,300 fatalities
- Over 55,000 people injured
- Extensive damage to roads, buildings, water systems and electrical infrastructure
- 2.5 million acres of crops damaged or destroyed and 1.8 million livestock dead
Humanitarian operations remain focused on four primary areas—food, shelter, livelihoods and water and sanitation. An estimated 1 million tons of rice—the country’s staple food—was destroyed by the cyclone and the Government of Bangladesh estimates the total agricultural loss is US $440 million. The World Bank and other international organizations estimate that economic losses caused by Cyclone Sidr total US $1.6 billion, or three percent of Bangladesh’s gross domestic product. The situation is aggravated by rising international prices for essential commodities, including fuel and food. Water safety is a priority, as areas remain where water treatment facilities are not functioning or are unavailable. Relief organizations continue to build cyclone-resistant homes for the most vulnerable households, in addition to repairing damaged homes.
Red Cross and Red Crescent Response
The American Red Cross has raised more than $2.2 million to support emergency response and early recovery efforts in Bangladesh. This includes a $1 million grant from USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance for water and sanitation and shelter activities. The American Red Cross also has contributed cash and in-kind assistance. In addition, the American Red Cross has deployed experts in water and sanitation, shelter and disaster management to support the response of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation).
The BDRCS has built upon its wide-ranging experience in disaster relief to bring much needed assistance to cyclone-affected populations. Prior to the arrival of Cyclone Sidr, as many as 5,000 community volunteers, trained through the BDRCS’s cyclone preparedness program, worked to alert and evacuate vulnerable populations. This played a significant role in reducing the number of deaths and injured. The BDRCS is responsible for 15 to 20 percent of the entire response to the disaster, with support from the International Federation. To date, the BDRCS has distributed food and relief items—including water purification tablets, oral rehydration salts, family kits, jerry cans, clothing, blankets and tarps—to more than 45,000 families in nine districts. The BDRCS has dispatched 14 medical teams, treating more than 110,000 medical cases to date. In addition, the BDRCS has begun implementing a community-based cyclone-resistant shelter program targeting 5,000 new shelters, which is also integrated with water and sanitation activities and livelihoods’ assistance, in the four most affected regions. BDRCS volunteers are also conducting tracing activities in coordination with the ICRC.
The International Federation allocated an initial $223,000 from the International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to enable the BDRCS to immediately begin relief activities. The International Federation also deployed a 9-person Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT) to initiate the emergency response. After conducting assessments and finalizing the plan of action in coordination with the country delegation and the BDRCS, the FACT completed its mission in late December. A Logistics Emergency Response Unit (ERU), three Regional Disaster Response Team members from the South Asia region and five Partner National Societies remain in-country supporting the operation. In addition, the International Federation has recruited long-term delegates to support the ongoing efforts.
How to Support the Relief Efforts
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Donate to the International Response Fund |
You can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.
To make a donation: |
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Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) |
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Make a secure, online donation. |
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Contact your local Red Cross chapter |
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Mail a Donation |
The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate a donation for a specific disaster, please do so at the time of donation.
NOTE: The Red Cross has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective use of donations. |
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Become A Volunteer |
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Contact your local Red Cross chapter regarding local opportunities to help at home, or visit VolunteerMatch to become a Red Cross volunteer. Well-meaning individuals are urged not to report directly to the affected areas. |
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Find your local Red Cross chapter |
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Visit VolunteerMatch.org |
Promote the Red Cross |
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Support the American Red Cross by hosting an online advertisement/public service banner on your Web site encouraging others to make a financial donation. |
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Sign up to host an online advertisement/public service banner |
About Donations of Goods or Collected Items
Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, though well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts. For these reasons, the Red Cross is not able to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, and canned goods. Nor are we able to accept small, individual donations of these items.
If you represent a company wishing to offer supplies in bulk, please contact your local Red Cross chapter.
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Read more About Collections of Goods and Individual Items |
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Find your Local Red Cross Chapter |
Inquiries from Media or Public
Please visit the American Red Cross Press Room on Redcross.org for the latest press releases, media advisories or statements, links to available news photos, video and public service announcements. |
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Visit the Press Room on RedCross.org |
Medial Requests ONLY |
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NATIONAL Requests: Call Disaster Public Affairs at 202-303-5551 |
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LOCAL Requests: Find and contact the closest Red Cross Chapter |
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Public requests, including private citizen, business, or student: |
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Visit the Contact Us page. |
Additional Resources
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