PRESS RELEASE
Bangladesh Cyclone Relief Continues
November 29, 2007 –The Salvation Army continues to bring help and hope to the multitudes who have been impacted by Cyclone Sidr which is being called the worst disaster to hit Bangladesh in over a decade. Bramwell Ryan, a member of The Salvation Army in Canada, was working in the region when the storm hit. He has joined The Salvation Army’s relief team in the Gopalgong District and shares the following story of a family who is being assisted:
I caught up with Captain Kalpona Biswas as she crossed a small lake to visit two particularly badly-hit homes, talk with the owners and determine the extent of their need. These homes were out in the open. They did not suffer from falling trees, as many other houses have, but the wind was forceful enough to cause extensive damage.
The story of Hafiza Begum, 45, is especially touching. Hafiza lives with her husband, a day laborer, one of her five sons and his wife. Their home, completed last year, represents seven years of savings. This was all the family owned.
The son was a rickshaw driver, but just before Cyclone Sidr struck his rickshaw was stolen. With a husband with intermittent income and a son with no income, the family has no home and no revenue. When the storm struck it not only collapsed their home, but the internal wooden pillars were all snapped, making them no longer useful for rebuilding. With the Bangladesh winter almost here, the family is looking to The Salvation Army for food, seed and possibly building supplies.
Food rations, rice and lentils, are being distributed by Salvation Army teams to around 12,500 people. Farmers will be supported with seeds to replant rice fields and shelter materials are being distributed to help reconstruct damaged homes.
The Salvation Army serves in more than 100 countries and provides both immediate emergency assistance and long-term recovery help in the event of any disaster. Funds for The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services come from corporate and private donations given specifically for disaster relief. To volunteer with The Salvation Army or to make a credit card donation, call 651-746-3400 or 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Checks made out to The Salvation Army may be sent to 2445 Prior Ave., Roseville, MN 55113. Click below to make an online donation.
