As Cyclone Remal barrels toward Bangladesh, Islamic Relief emergency teams are helping vulnerable families in the path of the storm. It is feared that up to 8.4 million people could be affected by the supercyclone, which is expected to make landfall. They face winds reaching 75 miles per hour, storm surges of up to 5 feet, and heavy rainfall.
To save lives, the government of Bangladesh has already evacuated thousands of individuals from coastal communities. It has opened 4,000 cyclone shelters, equipped with medical teams; made food and cash available to affected families; and closed schools in readiness.
At risk are people in Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalkathi, Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Feni, Comilla, Noakhali, Laxmipur, and Chandpur.
Islamic Relief is helping families facing Cyclone Remal
Islamic Relief, which operates in 4 of the affected districts, have launched an emergency response. The emergency teams are arriving in Satkhira, Khulna, Barguna, and Patuakhali districts to support preparation and relief efforts.
As an anticipatory response in Satkhira district, IRW has already distributed supplementary food packs 24 hrs before the landfall. Funded by Start Fund Bangladesh, the intervention gives 329 poor families around a week’s worth of rice, sugar, energy biscuits, and drinking water to help them during the cyclone. In addition, 65 households have received small cash grants, to help meet their most pressing needs.
Islamic Relief has over 32 years of experience working in Bangladesh, having begun the work in the country in the aftermath of a cyclone, which remains one of the deadliest tropical storms on record.
As the country faces another powerful cyclone, Islamic Relief is closely monitoring the situation. When Cyclone Remal makes landfall and its impact becomes clear, the teams on the ground will determine how the organization can best support affected communities.