Cyclone Mahasen evacuees still homeless, Take Action!

Cyclone Mahasen evacuees still homeless

Several weeks ago, reports came in of a fearsome tropical cyclone poised to strike Myanmar and Bangladesh. Over 1 million people evacuated their homes. CARE’s emergency teams sprang into action, coordinating with other groups and governmental agencies to be at the ready with crisis materials: 40,000 emergency family kits, including plastic sheeting for shelter, water purification tablets, and soap, to be distributed to families who lost their homes to the storm.

Thankfully, Tropical Cyclone Mahasen weakened to a tropical storm before leaving the region. While the impact was less severe than expected, it still left significant damage in its wake, with at least 18 people killed and over 500 homes destroyed. The damage to fishing villages in Bangladesh was especially severe.

CARE is working to help evacuees return home and rebuild their lives. Our teams on the ground are also helping build temporary shelter for the returnees and helping families prepare and protect themselves from future catastrophes in Bangladesh, which is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. CARE will help communities be ready when the next storm strikes.

In Myanmar, CARE is working with help ensure the needs of some 100,000 people evacuated from makeshift camps as they return to their pre-cyclone locations and supplying family emergency kits, including plastic sheeting, tarps, hygiene items and water pumps. CARE also is ready to help build adequate temporary shelter and mitigate the risks of future natural disaters on the returnees.

In Bangladesh, one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, with regular flooding and cyclonic events, CARE continues to work to see that families can prepare and protect themselves from such catastrophes and we are prepared to respond to emergencies when needed.

DHAKA/YANGON (May 16, 2013) – Although Cyclone Mahasen weakened Thursday afternoon into a tropical storm as it passed over coastal Bangladesh and spared Myanmar almost entirely, CARE emergency teams on the ground remain vigilant, and will begin assessing the damage caused on Friday morning.

There have been reports of 18 deaths due to Mahasen in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. In Bangladesh’s southern Patuakhali coast, there have been reports of more than 500 houses being destroyed, and thousands of people sought shelter after being evacuated ahead of the cyclone.

“Though the damage so far is less than what we feared, we are not out of danger yet. Heavy rains continue and there are risks of land and mudslides; we need to remain vigilant, and continue to monitor the situation. We’ll be assessing the impacted areas immediately after the storm passes to determine a response,” said Alex Maclean, CARE Bangladesh Assistant Country Director.

In Bangladesh, CARE has prepositioned emergency family kits for 20,000 families and food rations for 6,000 families ready for distribution. Emergency family kits include plastic sheeting for shelter, water containers, water purification tablets, soap, cooking pots and utensils.

In neighboring Myanmar, CARE Country Director Brian Agland said response teams would begin assessing people’s needs in Sittwe and further north in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships.

“Thankfully, Cyclone Mahasen has not turned out to be the major event that was forecast for Myanmar. We will have to wait and see what the assessments reveal, but our teams remain ready to help those who have been hardest hit,” said Agland.

In Myanmar, CARE is ready to distribute emergency family kits and clothing for 20,000 families. CARE is also sending water pumps and other equipment to Rakhine State to assist with pumping out water ponds and clearing debris if required.

About CARE:
Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to help lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty.

CARE has been working in Bangladesh since 1949 and has extensive experience responding to emergencies in both countries. In 2007 CARE responded to Cyclone Sidr, reaching nearly 500,000 people with food, water, sanitation and shelter. CARE has worked in Myanmar since 1995. After 2008’s devastating Cyclone Nargis, CARE Myanmar reached nearly 300,000 survivors with food, shelter, emergency supplies and assistance with recovery.

Last year, CARE worked in 84 countries around the world to assist more than 122 million people improve basic health and education, fight hunger, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity, confront climate change, and recover from disasters. To learn more, visit www.care.org.