Cyclone Sidr, believed to be a Category 3 or 4 storm, hit the coastal areas of Bangladesh on 15 November 2007. In spite of evacuating thousands of people, many continue to be deeply affected, especially the children, being 3 lakh in number.
Mr. Louis-Georges Arsenault, the UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh, stated that children, and pregnant and lactating women were worst affected by natural disasters, thereby, in need of greatest assistance. He also pointed out that if the children were deprived of immediate and proper assistance, they could be the victims of diarrhea and cold related diseases, which could turn out to be fatal.
He added that along with food, they would require vitamins and iron to help them fight against diarrhea and other diseases. He said that just rice and sugar would not serve the purpose, especially in Bangladesh, as malnourished children constitute 47 percent. Since it can have a traumatic impact on the children, he made it clear that help and supervision should be provided to the children in order to avoid these damaging impacts.
He explained that these problems could be minimized by providing better nutrition, temporary shelters and children friendly centres. He added that UNICEF is building 100 children friendly centres to help the children deal with this traumatic experience.
Identifying Education as one of the worst hit sectors as 6 lakh children have been affected, he suggested flexibility with the school students, so that it does not hamper their education by losing out on a school year. That would mean advancing the students to the next class without their final exams, due to their inability to give their exams because of the cyclone.
He said that this opportunity should be utilized by investing more money into building better schools, making them sustainable and cyclone-proof and in providing a more conducive learning environment. He said that UNICEF is working with the NGOs to provide direct relief in order to mitigate the difficulties in gaining access to relief.
Source: thedailystar
