Caritas Bangladesh (CB) response to Cyclone Amphan
Caritas Bangladesh (CB) response to Cyclone Amphan
Extremely severe cyclone Amphan hit Bangladesh on 20 May. It started crossing Bangladesh’s coastal districts, particularly the nearby areas of Sundarbans, with strong winds of over up to 180 km per hour around 4:00 pm on 20 May. As per media report as on 22 May 2020 a total of 16 persons killed due to fallen of trees, boat capsized and wall collapsed. A Red Crescent volunteer died after a boat capsizing while evacuating villagers in Patuakhali. Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Bhola, Barguna, Satkhira, Bagerhat and Khulna are the seven severely affected districts. Amphan destroyed hundreds of cattle and cattle-sheds, thousands of houses, huge number of trees and damages the mud roads, bridges, culverts, embankments, washed away the fish and crop fields.
Response by CB –
- CB has evacuated about 40,150 people from the vulnerable localities and brought at the 51 shelters.
- CB provided dry food packets to all sheltered people in the shelter centers.
- Ensured separate room for COVID-19 suspected and infected people. Adequate hand washing points, face masks, hand sanitizers, hand gloves, soap, etc. have been ensured for both volunteers and people who did not bring in shelters.
- All volunteers, Members of Task Forces, WDMCs and UDMCs and staff members of Caritas Bangladesh participated in search, rescue and first aid works since the morning of 21 with close coordination of local volunteers and government administration.
Rapid Need Assessment conducted by CB
A total of 18 teams of Caritas Bangladesh under Barishal, Chattogram and Khulna Regions have conducted transact walk and key informants interviews (KII) at 18 unions under 10 upazila in Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Khulna districts. A total of 55 staff members working in the teams. They visited affected HHs, markets, villages, embankments, etc. and talking to affected people, interviewing local leaders e.g. Chairmen, Ward members of Union Parishad. They collected information from respective UNO Offices.
By this time, Caritas Khulna Region has conducted an initial Rapid Need Assessment.
Assessment Findings:
Khulna is the most affected region, Barishal is the second most affected coastal region and Chattogram is moderate Cyclone Amphan affected region in Bangladesh.