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Press
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ActionAid responds to cyclone Sidr
Local partners mount evacuation drive as 140mph cyclone looms
New Delhi
, November15, 2007:
More than a million people are being evacuated from the coasts of Bangladesh and eastern Indian in preparation for the arrival of a 140mph cyclone.
Cyclone Sidr has already struck islands off the coast of Bangladesh and is expected to hit India at around 9.30pm local time today (November 15.)
The large scale evacuation is designed to prevent a repeat of the cyclones of 1970 and 1991 that killed 500,000 and 143,000 people respectively.
"Given the looming threat, government and media must maintain a state of alertness. Immediate measures are needed to warn remote and high risk communities," said Dr Unnikrishnan PV, ActionAid emergencies adviser for Asia.
ActionAid and partners are reaching out to villages at high risk in West Bengal.
In West Bengal, ActionAid partner Digambarpur Angikar has been using loudspeakers and going door to door alerting villagers to move to safer areas for shelter. Villagers are also being cautioned not to go fishing in the sea.
In nearby areas field workers and community groups are also spreading the warnings, people living on river banks have been evacuated to schools and the primary health centre.
ActionAid partner Bagmari Mother & Child Development Mission (BMCDM) is reaching out to 45 villages through 50 volunteers covering nine local areas.
"In the Caning blocks, alerts and preparation are swift and smooth so far, aided by strong trust and coordination between the block level administration and local community organisations," says Mr Alam of ActionAid local partner Bagmari Mother & Child Development Mission.
People living in mud houses are especially at risk and are being advised to move to safer shelters.
"In preparation for moving out to safer places such as school or government buildings, people must take care to carry with them essentials such as ration cards, basic medicines and provisions to last 3 or 4 days," adds Unnikrishnan PV.
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