Bangladesh YMCAs Stands Beside Cylcone ‘Aila’ Victims
Bangladesh has always been prone to natural calamities. The phenomenon of global warming has increased the frequency of natural calamities like cyclones and floods in recent times.
One of the worst cyclone was ‘Sidr’ which hit the southern part of the country on 15th of November 2007, causing immense suffering and damage to the people. Soon after the ‘Sidr’ affected people could have the time to recuperate, the cyclone ‘Aila’ hit the same area on 25th of May 2009 in the afternoon. The velocity of wind was around 100 kilometers per hour but the high tidal wave accompanied by the winds had inundated vast low lying areas in the coastal districts, causing extensive damage to those localities. The districts of Bagerhat, Khulna, Shatkhira, Gopalgonj, Bhola, Barisal had been affected. The death toll from Cyclone Aila rose to 179 according to Governmental reports. Thousands of people were marooned in the costal areas, battling to survive the aftermath with little food and water.
More than 7,000 people had been injured and at least 58,450 domestic animals killed, according to the Disaster Management Ministry. A total of 34,19,528 people had been affected comprising 7,75,915 families. The government and non-government organizations took part in the rescue and relief operations in 14 districts.
People who took refuge in the cyclone shelters were passing hard times for scarcity of food, drinking water and medicines. The NGO’s along with the Governmental immediately involved in emergency relief operations in the affected areas. Mainly food items were distributed to the affected people.
Gopalgonj YMCA
The YMCAs of Barisal and Gopalgonj are situated in the worst affected areas, while Kaligram YMCA is situated in the vicinity. These 3 YMCAs had taken initiatives to support the affected people in their vicinities with their limited capabilities. They had embarked on a plan to reach out to 2,500 families of the disaster hit areas with emergency food relief.
An appeal from the National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh was sent to the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and other fraternal YMCAs to support the Bangladesh YMCAs to materialize the emergency relief program. The Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs coordinated the fund raising campaign amongst the YMCA Movements and we are grateful that our fraternal YMCAs had come forward to support the Bangladesh YMCAs in this respect.
Soon after the YMCAs of Barisal, Gopalgonj and Kaligram had embarked upon the implementation of the Emergency Relief Program. Volunteers were mobilized to carry out the relief activities. Preliminary survey was done and the local government authorities of the target areas was consulted and permission was obtained from them.
Though we had targeted to reach out 2,500 families, however, due to fund limitation and also price hike of food items just before the Ramadhan, (which habitually happens each year, as the consumption of food goes up during this time) we had to revised our plans to reach 2,100.
Each of the 3 YMCAs had been entrusted to distribute food items to 700 families. Food item for each family consisted of 10 kilograms of fine rice, 1 kilogram of pulse (lentil) and 1 kilogram of salt. Women were preferred for receiving these food relief.
The YMCAs volunteers were engaged in packing these items in bags and had distributed those on the day fixed for distribution.
Gopalgonj YMCA distributed to cyclone victims of the villages of Sundarpun, Purbapar, Gilatoli, Palpara, Chanpur and Bashtala, situated under Number 10. Bastala Union, Police Station, Rampal and District Bagerhat.
Kaligram YMCA distributed to the victims of the villages of Baidhamari, Joymoni, Narikeltala, Masmara, Kanainagar, situated under the Union Chila and Chandpai, Police Station: Mongla, District: Bagerhat.
Barisal YMCA distributed to the victims of the village of Rajapur, situated under Satla Union, Police Station: Uzirpur, District: Barisal.
Government Officials and local dignitaries were also present at the time of distribution of the relief materials and necessary Governmental certification had been obtained.
We are grateful to the National Council of YMCAs of Australia, Japan, and Taiwan, Metropolitan YMCA Singapore, Tokyo YMCA, YMCA of Singapore, USA and Y Care International for standing beside us with financial resources, enabling us to help the people with food relief who were in need after devastated by the cyclone. We express our indebtedness to these Y Movements for their generosity.
We also express our gratitude to the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and particularly its General Secretary Mr. Kohei Yamada, for coordinating the fund raising campaign. We also express our gratitude to the World Alliance of YMCAs for their support and cooperation.
Finally we also remember all the volunteers and professionals of the local YMCAs involved in the Emergency Food Relief Program and express our gratitude to them.
Kaligram YMCA
