The northern regions of Bangladesh have recently been struck by Cyclone ‘Remal’ which was classified by the UN as the most devastating disaster of its kind to hit the country in over a decade. The initial cyclone brought along heavy rainfall which triggered a series of floods and landslides over the next few months, plunging the nation into an even deeper humanitarian crisis.
The devastating consequences, which are exacerbated by the waves of flooding, have resulted in 16 deaths so far with millions of people across the country adversely affected. According to latest figures from UNICEF, 14.8 million people have been directly impacted by the natural disaster, majority of whom are women and children. While displacement and loss of shelter remains the major issue, many other facilities have been either destroyed or severely damaged leading to a broader issue within the communities.
The heavy inundation has resulted in widespread contamination of water sources due to waste, oil and agricultural chemicals amongst other substances. According to the UNICEF report, a number of sanitation facilities have been flooded, causing significant damages and posing major health risks due to diminished water quality.
Furthermore, a total of 917 government primary schools have been directly impacted as well as another 991 schools being used as flood shelters. An additional 2,637 learning centres have been damaged, ultimately disrupting the education of over 600,000 students.
This issue continues to grow day by day with a dire need of humanitarian intervention. Many districts in Bangladesh have been completely sub-merged, forcing millions to become displaced and left without any shelter or resources. Part of the mission at Human Appeal Australia is responding diligently to these matters through providing urgent aid necessary for the survival of the affected communities.
With your help, we can ensure these communities in Bangladesh have access to essential resources including food, clean water and shelter and a means to reestablish their livelihoods. Join us in alleviating the struggle from those facing such challenging circumstances.