[Bangladesh]Cyclone Remal Emergency Relief Completed : Survivors Stories
Cyclone Remal made landfall on the Bangladesh-India border from May 26 to 27, 2024, causing severe flooding, especially in southwestern Bangladesh. The floods and strong winds destroyed many homes, disrupting lives. Securing food and clean water became difficult, forcing many residents into evacuation shelters.
In response to these emergencies, Peace Winds dispatched staff from Japan to conduct damage and needs assessments in collaboration with our local partner, CIS, in the severely affected Bagerhat and Patuakhali District, and distributed emergency supplies to vulnerable communities.
Here are the stories from people affected by the Cyclone Real.
Story of Mr. Musharraf:
Mr. Musharraf lives with his family of ten in Bagerhat. He is a fisherman and a shrimp farmer, he also fishes in the Baleshwar River using a boat. However, the cyclone had flooded his fishing boat, rendering it unusable. The rising water level in the river had caused his house to flood and eventually it was completely destroyed. “All our food and household items were swept away by the flood. The fishing boat, essential for our livelihood, was damaged, and we had no money to repair it. The nets needed for shrimp farming were also washed away, making it extremely difficult to support our family of ten,” said Mr. Musharraf. His wife, Ms. Kohinoor, explained their harsh living conditions. “When the cyclone hit, the nearby school had opened as a shelter, but after the school reopened, we had no place to return to except this damaged home.”
A month after the disaster, Mr. Musharraf’s house still needed many repairs, but he had managed to gather wood and tin to fix the roof and move back home from the shelter. However, there was no prospect of repairing the boat used for fishing or the space to store fish. Additionally, the fishing ban period for fish protection was in effect, making the financial situation even more difficult. Mr. Musharraf and his family continued to struggle to secure clean water. The cyclone had contaminated the river, making their usual water source unusable. They collected rainwater in a tank, added alum to purify it, and used it for drinking and cooking. However, the rainwater wasn’t enough, so they had to travel an hour each way to an inland village that wasn’t hit as hard by the cyclone to get more water. Securing food was also a challenge.
After conducting assessment by home visits to determine the damage and living conditions, ensuring that the limited aid reached those most in need. Households with female heads or disabled members were also prioritized.
Stories of Ms. Jamile and Ms. Moriyon
Ms. Jamile: A single mother who had lost her husband in a fishing accident 14 years ago. Six months later, one of her two daughters also died at sea. Since then, Ms. Jamile had worked as a day laborer in road construction, earning 200 Taka (about 1.7 US Dollars). When the cyclone made landfall, Ms. Jamile evacuated to a cyclone shelter, leaving her valuable livestock behind at home and her house was severely damaged by the flood. The shelter was officially open for only one night, but it was extremely difficult for her to clear the debris from her home by herself, so she stayed at the shelter for four days even after the water levels receded. Ms. Jamile was worried that her livestock might escape, but luckily, they were safe. She managed the removal of debris with the help of her neighbors, but she had been anxious about rebuilding her life.
Ms. Moriyon: Another single mother who had lost her husband from a heart attack not long ago. She has a son with severe autism who required special care, and losing her husband made life even more difficult. “Coping with my husband’s death and trying to rebuild our lives amidst this loss have been the hardest,” said Ms. Moriyon. When receiving emergency supplies from Peace Winds, Ms. Moriyon said, “We are struggling to find food, so I am very happy to receive rice. I am also very pleased to have fish as a part of the supplies, as we eat it every day.”
Like these three people whom we interviewed, most communities affected by the Cyclone Remal also needed clean water and food. To meet their needs, Peace Winds/CIS emergency relief supplies included rice, lentils, salt, potatoes, onions, dried fish, cooking oil, mosquito nets, water purification tablets, and oral rehydration salts (ORS).
Though Peace Wind completed the emergency response, communities affected by the Cyclone Remal still need help. Your support will help additional people who are in dire need.
This project was funded by grants from Japan Platform and donations from Peace Winds supporters.