Zyklon "Amphan" hinterlässt eine Spur der Verwüstung in Indien und Bangladesch

Neu Delhi/Dhaka (ots) - Save the Children: Zyklon "Amphan" hinterlässt eine Spur der Verwüstung in Indien und Bangladesch

Mostak Hussain, Humanitarian Director for Save the Children in Bangladesh, said:

"Even by Bangladeshi standards, this was a powerful storm, and our teams are on the ground assessing the situation. We've received reports that more than five million people were disconnected from the electricity grid for their own safety as winds of 150 kph smashed into power lines, destroying homes and uprooting trees. In some of the worst affected areas there was a tidal surge of nearly three metres, causing dams to overflow and submerging low-lying villages and crops.

"Our biggest responsibility now is making sure that displaced children and their families can return to their homes, while complying with social distancing guidelines to protect people from COVID-19. Save the Children is responding to the needs of the people in the most affected areas, supporting the Bangladesh Government's relief efforts."

Bidisha Pillai, CEO of Save the Children India, said:

"The Indian government is doing its best to open up the road networks. Now that the storm has passed, our biggest concern is ensuring vulnerable children and their families have a roof over their head, food to eat and access to basic healthcare. But the response will undoubtedly be complicated by COVID-19 and the need to ensure that we keep people, including our staff, safe at all times."

"Save the Children's humanitarian team, along with our partners, has begun assessing the damage after witnessing one of the strongest cyclones to hit India in decades. The picture will become clearer in the coming days -- when we will better understand the priorities of families and children affected by the cyclone.

"We are learning that thousands of homes are completely destroyed, tens of thousands of trees have been uprooted, disrupting traffic even in Kolkata, making it hard to reach those who need help. Much of Odisha and West Bengal are still without power so communication with our teams is also a challenge."

Spokespeople available in India and Bangladesh.

Contact:

Bhanu.Bhatnagar@savethechildren.org

+44 7467 096 788

Out-of-hours:

Media@savethechildren.org.uk

+44 7831 650 409

Über Save the Children

Im Nachkriegsjahr 1919 gründete die britische Sozialreformerin und Kinderrechtlerin Eglantyne Jebb Save the Children, um Kinder in Deutschland und Österreich vor dem Hungertod zu retten. Heute ist die inzwischen größte unabhängige Kinderrechtsorganisation der Welt in über 110 Ländern im Einsatz. Save the Children ist da für Kinder in Kriegen, Konflikten und Katastrophen - seit 100 Jahren und darüber hinaus. Diese Kinder zu schützen, zu stärken und zu fördern ist das zentrale Anliegen der Organisation. Die Schwerpunkte der Arbeit liegen in den Bereichen Schule und Bildung, Schutz vor Ausbeutung und Gewalt sowie Überleben und Gesundheit. Save the Children setzt sich ein für eine Welt, die die Rechte der Kinder achtet. Eine Welt, in der alle Kinder gesund und sicher leben und frei und selbstbestimmt aufwachsen können.

Pressekontakt:

Save the Children Deutschland e.V.
Pressestelle - Aishe Malekshahi
Tel.: +49 170 8006 120
Mail: Aishe.Malekshahi@savethechildren.de

Weiteres Material: https://www.presseportal.de/pm/106106/4603048
OTS: Save the Children Deutschland e.V.

Original-Content von: Save the Children Deutschland e.V., übermittelt durch news aktuell