Nov 19: The rescue operation is going on at mass scale in Bangladesh to provide some relief from the powerful Cyclone ‘Sidr’ that has killed more than 2,300 people in the entire country as per government’s statistics.
According to reports coming from various sources, the rescue and relief teams of across the globe are trying to reach in the far-most areas that were distraught most by the powerful cyclone hit on Thursday night, November 15, with winds up to 150 miles per hour from the Bay of Bengal. Nearly 25 districts out of 64 in the country have badly affected by this tropical storm. This was one of the most powerful cyclones that come in the Bengal region in last 130 years.
The Bengal authorities have confirmed the death toll of 2,300 people and fear to raise the death toll up to 10,000 when the rescue activists reach in the far areas from where none has reached so far, and hence no confirmed report is available. A private television channel in Bangladesh has estimated the death toll to 3,000.
As much as one million families have been affected from this cyclone Sidr and 95% percent of ripped rice harvest and shrimp farms and other crops are destroyed completely with the effect of storm. Bangladesh has already declared this disaster as a ‘national calamity’.
Bengal Red Crescent Society, the equivalent Islamic society in Bangladesh like Red Cross Society has estimated that the final death toll might be up to 10,000 and more than 10 millions of people could be homeless, when the level of water would decrease. The condition would be more serious when the epidemic diseases spread out later due to contaminated water.
On the other hand, Bangladesh government has announced to overcome the situation very soon as said by District official Shahidul Islam, “We are quite capable to overcome the problem”.
Bangladesh is also getting several sorts of help from many countries and NGOs to facilitate relief operation in the affected areas. The basic necessities like ‘tents’ for the temporary shelter, foods and drinking water are being provided to thousands of homeless survivals of the country from the globe.
Mohammad Golam Mostafa, from the Disaster Management Ministry has said, “The government’s statistics are based on the district official reports that are being compiled on behalf of filed reports from police, public hospitals, military officials, relief workers and aid agencies. The numbers are far from precise because workers on the ground have yet to even reach some of the hardest hit areas, let alone assess the damage”.
Latest government reports give an idea that standing crops on some 722,890 acres (about 293,000 hectares) of land were washed off either completely or partially; some 242,000 domestic animals and poultry birds rotten during the storm; a total of 50 educational institutions were completely ruined in the storms while 4,046 institutions were damaged partially and at around 3.1 million people of 8,80,000 families have been leading subhuman life as the storms rendered most of them homeless.
In terms of aid, USA, UK and European Union have provided a broad package of relief in terms of money, food, water, clothes, tents and other basic necessities. The US government has aid $2.1 million for emergency rescue and for rebuilding houses, while United Kingdom has offered $5.2 million for carry on rescue operation. United Nations Organisation has promised to provide $7 million aid whereas many foreign governments and international groups have also assured to help by various means.
The Prime Minister of India has also offered ‘ India’s help’ in terms of neighbour’s requirement. “Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has written a letter to Bangladesh authorities regarding the help, ‘What they want’… India is ready to help him in all sort of means”, PM office said in the written letter.
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