Bangladesh hit by Cyclone Mocha
Concern teams are responding to damage caused by Cyclone Mocha in Cox's bazar, home to over 900,000 Rohingya refugees.
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Concern delivers emergency response following deadly landslides in Bangladesh
The effects of devastating landslides in Chittagong, south eastern Bangladesh, which have killed at least 135 people and left thousands homeless. Photo: Young Power in Social Action (YPSA).
Concern is delivering an emergency response in Bangladesh following yesterday’s disastrous landslides that have so far killed 135 people and left thousands homeless.
#BangladeshLandslide toll reaches 144 https://t.co/ADE0e59xVY pic.twitter.com/s7xRuBZHmq
— Business Standard (@bsindia) June 14, 2017
According to initial reports, landslides and flooding in south eastern Bangladesh – which were triggered by torrential monsoon rains beginning last week – are the most lethal in the country’s recent history. The mudslides swept over thatched homes and settlements, cutting off telephone and transport links in the remote districts of Bandarban, Chittagong and Rangamati. 508 millimetres (1.6 feet) of rain was recorded in Rangamati alone over the past two days.
Growing death toll
An estimated 135 people – including four soldiers who had joined the rescue operation – have been killed and communities in the affected districts remain without water, electricity, and food supplies. It’s feared that the death toll will increase as at least 30 people are still missing. Many have also been injured and thousands have been left homeless.
Reacting to the disaster, Concern’s Regional Director for Asia and Middle East, Brid Kennedy, noted:
This is extremely devastating in an already very poor part of the country where many people live in poverty in makeshift huts. Bangladesh is one of the countries that is worst affected by climate change and the floods that happened last night and last week just compound the impact it has on an already very poor and vulnerable population."
Bangladesh is one of the countries that is worst affected by climate change and the floods that happened last night and last week just compound the impact it has on an already very poor and vulnerable population.
https://t.co/fEXbbIcoOC
Prayers for Bangladesh #Bangladeshlandslide
— Kuldeep Sharma (@Kuldeepcs) June 14, 2017
Concern’s emergency response
Through our Bangladeshi partner, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), Concern is delivering immediate emergency response to affected communities and helping to identify those who are most in need of support and shelter.
Speaking from Dhaka, Concern’s Country Director in Bangladesh, A.K.M. Musha, noted:
Through Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), our partner organisation on the ground, we are providing support to the government in evacuation, search and rescue. We are monitoring the situation and are ready to provide additional support to the affected people."
45 years in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is just over twice the size of the island of Ireland but has a population that is over 25 times larger, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
More than 130 dead in Bangladesh landslide, @ariabendix reports https://t.co/IRwWFlS8yt pic.twitter.com/JMH6NppPP6
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) June 13, 2017
Concern has been working with the people of Bangladesh to address the vicious cycle of poverty, develop resilience and respond to natural disasters for over 45 years. Our long-established and strong partnerships with leading local partners such as YPSA allow us to deliver an immediate and efficient emergency response when disasters like yesterday’s landslides hit.
For updates on the situation in Bangladesh and our response, follow us on Twitter.
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