Cyclone Sidr obliterated coastal regions of Bangladesh . The death toll has passed 2,500 and may rise to over 10,000. Reuters reports upwards of a million people have been displaced. There is a critical need for clean drinking water, food, and shelter. GlobalMedic's Rapid Response Team was working in the Saud Khali region in Southern Bangladesh from November 20th - 30th. The team used its inflatable field hospital to treat Cyclone victims. Over 1000 patients a day were being treated. Two large scale water purification units restored access to clean drinking water to over 50,000 civilians in the area. Team members were using boats to ferry aid and set up field clinics in remote areas. They managed to install portable water purification systems to areas cut off from access. The team also set up distribution systems of food, water, blankets, clothing, and utensils in four affected villages.
The scope of the emergency situation here is vast and the international response does not appear to meet the need. As a result, GlobalMedic has deployed a second inflatable field hospital unit to the region. The same blueprint for aid delivery will be established in Pirajpur.
GlobalMedic's overall response included the deployment of two inflatable field hospitals, over 2.8 million water purification tablets, over 1 million tablets of essential medicines, and 21 water purification systems. The team was able to provide 100,000 civilians with access to primary health care and clean drinking water.
Our in-country partners who were trained by GlobalMedic back in August 2007 will continue the work to provide aid to the victims of the Cyclone.
