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Devastating Cyclone hits Bangladesh
Red Cross response swift
On November 15th Cyclone Sidr hit the coast of Bangladesh leaving a trail of unimaginable destruction in its wake. Ferocious winds and widespread flooding have destroyed an estimated 500,000 homes and left millions of people in urgent need of emergency shelter and basic supplies. Local authorities are reporting that the storm has affected over 6 million people, killed 3,000, and left over 34,000 injured and 1,700 missing.
Nearly 40,000 Bangladesh Red Crescent Society volunteers began supporting evacuation efforts and working in 1,800 evacuation shelters as early as two days before the storm.
This effort is being lauded as having saved countless lives. Volunteers are currently on the ground helping to distribute relief items, provide first aid and help with search and rescue.
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) swiftly donated $550,000 to support Red Cross relief efforts in the area.
As part of CIDA’s Rapid Response Project that deploys trained humanitarians and/or supplies to affected areas, Canadian Red Cross delegate Bernard LaLiberté has been deployed to Dhaka to assist millions displaced by this devastating disaster. Laliberté will coordinate the international emergency shelter response for those left homeless. After spending two years in Bangladesh, working on the Cyclone Preparedness Program, LaLiberté has a strong knowledge of the countr. He assisted in the management of the cyclone-warning programme, based on volunteers, to prepare/evacuate the coastal communities during a cyclone threat that has been commended as saving saving thousands of lives.
The Canadian Red Cross is appealing to the public to give generously to help the people affected by the worst cyclone to hit the country in a decade. Funds raised will be used to provide survivors with basic supplies, emergency shelter, and to ensure people have access to health care and clean water. More detailed assessments are being carried out to determine the longer-term needs of vulnerable communities..
Canadians wishing to help may give online at www.redcross.ca, call 1-800-418-1111 or contact their local Canadian Red Cross office. The 24-hour toll free line accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Cheques should be made payable to Canadian Red Cross, earmarked “Bangladesh Floods” and mailed to Canadian Red Cross National Office, 400 Cooper Street, Suite 8000, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2H8.