Emergency Relief in the Aftermath of Cyclone Sidr

by Neeti Bhargava, Christian Aid-ACT International

A Mother's Story

Fahima is a mother of six living in the village of South Kalaiya in the district of Pirozpur. Her house was severely damaged by Cyclone Sidr. All her food, clothes and cooking utensils were destroyed.

Since the cyclone, she and her family have survived on a small amount of relief that has come to the village. However, with no distributions in the last few days, her family had no food left in their house.

ACT member, Christian Aid, is now working in the village of South Kalaiya through its implementing partner UBINIG. Fahima’s family received an emergency relief package with 5 kilograms of rice, 1 kilogram of beans, salt, alum (a mineral used in cooking), water purification tablets and packets of oral rehydration salts.

This immediate assistance will support her family up to four days. “Without today’s support, my family would have gone hungry,” said Fahima.

With most water sources being contaminated, she also appreciated the water purification tablets and alum, as these help prevent waterborne diseases.

She added, “By adding alum to water for a half hour and then adding the water purification tablet, I can try to prevent diseases among my family members.”

A Son's Story

Limun and his mother, Lily, have lived in his uncle’s house for many years in the village of South Kalaiya. On the day that Cyclone Sidr struck, the family was unaware of the growing intensity of the storm. As the storm wore on, it became apparent that it was more ferocious than anything they had ever experienced before.

Limun, along with his mother and cousin, tried to escape the storm by braving the two kilometres to a safer building. On the way, a tidal surge hit them and Lily, Limun’s mother, was killed. Limun is now an orphan wresting with the loss of his mother.Limun’s uncle, Abdul Hawaldar, said that he will take care of Limun now as his own child.

Mr. Hawaldar and Limun have received an emergency relief package from ACT member, Christian Aid, through its implementing partner UBINIG. Mr. Hawaldar said this food package was essential for the survival of his extended family, as he had lost his house and all of his possessions in the cyclone.

While Limun will have shelter and care from his uncle, many questions still remain for his future. The same holds true for the many other children orphaned by the cyclone.

A Family's Story

Murshida is ten years old and is the youngest in a family of four children. Her father is a daily wage labourer and earns money by working on fishing boats among doing other day jobs.

On the day that Cyclone Sidr came ashore, Murshida’s family saw the water levels rising around their house in the village of Khol Patua. Murshida’s father decided to evacuate the family to a safe building, one kilometer away.

The family started on this journey leaving behind their mother, because she was unable to walk the distance due to a severe bronchitis infection. The rest of the family made their way to the safe building wading through the waist deep water.

After the cyclone subsided, they returned to their house, which had completely collapsed, but they fortunately found Murshida’s mother alive.

The events of that day sent the young Murshida into a shock. Her mother, Hanifa, said, “For four days, Murshida has not said a word, she doesn’t [visibly] recognise anyone, not even me, her mother.”

The days after the cyclone have been tough for the family, said Hanifa. “We constructed this makeshift house, as the old one had collapsed completely.”

The family has been surviving on whatever little food support they can get from neighbours and on the little aid that has been delivered to the village.

“Before the cyclone, I used to cook two times a day. We would eat the leftovers of the previous evening meal in the morning. After the cyclone, I have been cooking only once a day and I distribute this food among all the family,” Hanifa said.

An immediate relief distribution by UK-based ACT member, Christian Aid, through its implementing partner, UBINIG, will support this family for another four days.

The lack of available work in the area after the cyclone has further complicated the family’s situation and forced Murshida’s father to migrate to the town of Bagerhat in search of labour.

Hanifa said, “I was injured in the cyclone, now I can hardly move or sit, yet my husband had to leave me and the entire family in search of work.”

Hanifa’s health condition has worsened after her back was injured when the family’s house collapsed. She now finds it difficult to walk or sit. UBINIG has assured Hanifa that a doctor from a UBINIG medical team will come to see her on the day following the distribution.