UN concerned for cyclone victims

The United Nations has expressed its concern over the safety and welfare of victims of Cyclone Mora, two days after it damaged homes and facilities across the southern part of Bangladesh. Cyclone Mora made landfall on Tuesday and left a trail of destruction in its path.
Humanitarian workers from five United Nations agencies (UNHCR, IOM, WFP, UNICEF and UNFPA) were already on the ground and immediately began providing assistance to the people affected by the cyclone, according to a press release issued by the office of the resident coordinator of the entity  in Dhaka on Thursday.
According to the UN estimates, over 10 million people were living in the region exposed to wind speeds of some 120 km/h, and some districts near Cox’s Bazaar and Chittagong were hit with gusts that topped 130 km/h. Over 200,000 people have been displaced as a result of the cyclone.
Cox’s Bazaar is home to a large Rohingya population seeking refuge in Bangladesh from neighbouring Myanmar. Some 300,000 Rohingyas have been living in Bangladesh since the 1990s, 32,000 of whom are registered refugees.
Since renewed fighting in Northern Rakhine in Myanmar in October 2016, an additional 76,000 Rohingya have arrived in the area, many living in precarious conditions in makeshift camps.
The Government of Bangladesh assisted with the evacuation of over 300,000 people from the affected area, including the Rohingyas, as the cyclone approached.
Rohingya communities, already vulnerable and marginalised, were particularly hit heavily. It is estimated that 60-70 per cent of homes and infrastructure in five Rohingya camps were damaged, and people living there are now short of food, fuel and electricity. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that 20 per cent of the shelters were completely levelled in Nayapara camp. Schools, clinics and administrative buildings were damaged, and families with special needs have been moved to temporary accommodation.
United Nations agencies are on the ground and actively supporting the government and civil society to restore services and provide emergency supplies to those affected.
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is providing emergency hospital tents to the affected camps, and is aiming to provide waterproof plastic sheets to affected families.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is providing shelter and emergency healthcare, and is supervising repairs to damaged health facilities and sanitation services (latrines).
The World Food Progrmame (WFP) is providing emergency food rations and large quantities of dry biscuits until regular food supplies resume. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is supplying hygiene kits, water purification tablets, and recreation kits for affected refugee and migrant children.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) continues to provide high-quality medical care to pregnant women, new mothers and their newborns in the camps.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Robert D. Watkins, said, “I am relieved that damage was not severe but there is a great urgency to respond quickly to the needs of the affected population especially to replace severely damaged rudimentary homes.”
Additional financial and material support is being sought by the UN as a more complete picture of the damage emerges. The UN agencies are closely cooperating with the government, local and international partners to ensure a swift humanitarian response that will assist both Bangladeshi and Rohingya communities.

UN concerned for cyclone victims

The United Nations has expressed its concern over the safety and welfare of victims of Cyclone Mora, two days after it damaged homes and facilities across the southern part of Bangladesh. Cyclone Mora made landfall on Tuesday and left a trail of destruction in its path. Humanitarian workers from five United Nations agencies (UNHCR, IOM, WFP, UNICEF and UNFPA) were already on the ground and immediately began providing assistance to the people affected by the cyclone, according to a press release issued by the office of the resident coordinator of the entity in Dhaka on Thursday. According to the UN estimates, over 10 million people were living in the region exposed to wind speeds of some 120 km/h, and some districts near Coxs Bazaar and Chittagong were hit with gusts that topped 130 km/h. Over 200,000 people have been displaced as a result of the cyclone. Coxs Bazaar is home to a large Rohingya population seeking refuge in Bangladesh from neighbouring Myanmar. Some 300,000 Rohingyas have been living in Bangladesh since the 1990s, 32,000 of whom are registered refugees. Since renewed fighting in Northern Rakhine in Myanmar in October 2016, an additional 76,000 Rohingya have arrived in the area, many living in precarious conditions in makeshift camps. The Government of Bangladesh assisted with the evacuation of over 300,000 people from the affected area, including the Rohingyas, as the cyclone approached. Rohingya communities, already vulnerable and marginalised, were particularly hit heavily. It is estimated that 60-70 per cent of homes and infrastructure in five Rohingya camps were damaged, and people living there are now short of food, fuel and electricity. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that 20 per cent of the shelters were completely levelled in Nayapara camp. Schools, clinics and administrative buildings were damaged, and families with special needs have been moved to temporary accommodation. United Nations agencies are on the ground and actively supporting the government and civil society to restore services and provide emergency supplies to those affected. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is providing emergency hospital tents to the affected camps, and is aiming to provide waterproof plastic sheets to affected families. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is providing shelter and emergency healthcare, and is supervising repairs to damaged health facilities and sanitation services (latrines). The World Food Progrmame (WFP) is providing emergency food rations and large quantities of dry biscuits until regular food supplies resume. The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) is supplying hygiene kits, water purification tablets, and recreation kits for affected refugee and migrant children. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) continues to provide high-quality medical care to pregnant women, new mothers and their newborns in the camps. The UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Robert D. Watkins, said, I am relieved that damage was not severe but there is a great urgency to respond quickly to the needs of the affected population especially to replace severely damaged rudimentary homes. Additional financial and material support is being sought by the UN as a more complete picture of the damage emerges. The UN agencies are closely cooperating with the government, local and international partners to ensure a swift humanitarian response that will assist both Bangladeshi and Rohingya communities.