Cyclone Sidr

Media Statement, 1st December 2007

GOAL’s emergency co-ordinator Brian Casey, has discovered that the situation in the Cyclone affected region of west Bangladesh is much worse than was first feared. 

Having just arrived in the area he stated that; “The devastation I’ve seen is unlike anything I could have imagined. There are people who have been literally left with nothing. Their homes and possesions were all swept away during the cyclone. They are in desperate need of assistance.”

In response, GOAL will provide emergency aid to approximately 18,000 people in 3,000 households. GOAL will distribute emergency packs to displaced families containing jerry cans, cooking utensils, plastic sheeting and other essentials. We will also instigate cash-for-work schemes to aid in the clean-up operation.

As many water sources have been contaminated, one of our first priorities will be to provide clean water. We will also distribute seeds to replace the crops lost during the cyclone, which will be ready for harvesting in three months.

We are working with a local partner, UDIPAN, who have long experience of working in the area and who GOAL have worked with very successfully in the past. We anticipate that this intervention will last two months.

Note for editors: Cyclone Sidr hit the coastal regions of west Bangladesh on November 15th. An estimated 3,500 were killed in the cyclone and some 2 million were displaced.

For more information contact Brian Casey, GOAL Emergency
Co-Ordinator on 00 88 216 311 58 914.