Bangladesh: MSF ends emergency intervention in areas affected by cyclone Sidr

Forty days after starting an emergency assistance operation for people affected by Cyclone Sidr, which heavily hit southern Bangladesh on 16 November 2007, the international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières has ended its programme in the area now that the health situation has stabilized and the presence of other relief organizations has increased.

Between November 20 and December 5, MSF medical teams conducted three assessment missions in the most affected districts of the Bangladeshi coastal area: Bagerhat, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barguna, and Pirojpur.

Based on the results of these assessments, MSF decided to focus its emergency response on providing basic health care through mobile clinics in Pirojpur district (Mathbaria area), distributing essential relief items in Patuakhali district (Galachipa area), and improving access to water in all areas.

During the month of December, 7,000 people were treated in four mobile clinics, 75% of whom were children under five, the most vulnerable group in such circumstances. The main pathologies were diarrhoea (mainly due to the difficulty in accessing clean drinking water), respiratory infections (due to seasonal cold weather), and skin diseases. Most pathologies were not severe and only a few patients had to be referred to the Matbahia hospital in Pirojour district.

In addition to medical care, 5,500 children under five also received a blanket and one kilogram of soap. All patients suffering from diarrhoea received one kilogram of soap and all patients received water purification tablets for 1 week for 5 persons.

Four thousand kits including blankets, soap, buckets, clothes, and kitchen sets, were distributed in less accessible areas of south Patuakhali district to a population of 20,000 people. In both districts, some sanitation facilities were repaired or new ones were built, allowing people better access to their usual sources of water. Sixty community latrines were also built.

Relief is now reaching most of the affected populations even in remote areas, albeit in an irregular fashion. Numerous governmental and non-governmental organizations are responding to midterm needs. The health situation has stabilized and no epidemic outbreak has been recorded. MSF therefore decided to end its emergency programme. MSF will, however, continue to monitor the evolution of the health situation through its Dhaka office.