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19 November 2007 |
Three teams of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) are currently on their way to three of the most affected areas by the cyclone. About fifteen people between medical and logistical staff are going to Barguna, Pirojpur and Bhola provinces in the South of Bangladesh, to assess the situation and the most urgent needs for the population affected by the cyclone. In the meantime the teams are bringing some plastic sheeting and basic drugs for a possible first response. MSF is also in regular contact with other organizations on the ground. Based on the assessment made by our teams, further action will be decided.
What is MSF doing to provide relief after the cyclone has so heavily hit Bangladesh?
MSF has not yet intervened in the affected area but is currently assessing the needs and preparing to respond. Since the cyclone struck, there has been a prompt response from
the Government as well as non-governmental organisations present in Bangladesh. MSF has been in Bangladesh since 1992 and throughout our experience in this country we know that there is a good responsiveness to such crisis.
Is MSF not responding at all?
Our first response was to deal with the impact in the Teknaf area where MSF was already working to provide humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, particularly those living in the makeshift Tal camp, where the living conditions are already very precarious. Now we are also sending three teams to other areas more heavily affected by the cyclone, to see if there is need for us to intervene, particularly for the potential consequences in relation to health and epidemics and for the wounded people.
What are MSF main concerns for the population?
For displaced people, especially if they would not have access to clean water, medical issues like diarrhoea could potentially be a problem, but that is so far too early to say. We will be looking into the potential consequences in relation to health and epidemics and particularly the wounded people.
Is cholera a possible risk?
If people lack sufficient clean water and hygiene, in any context water borne diseases and diarrhoea could strike. But for now we haven’t seen anything yet and we know that the capacity of the Ministry of Health (MoH) to respond is very strong. In case there would be major issues such as diarrhoea, or other diseases we are willing to help the MoH where necessary, like we did this summer when we opened a temporary cholera centre to provide decentralised services in the capital Dhaka.
Does MSF think this is a major crisis?
Having worked in Bangladesh for more than 15 years, we know the country is vulnerable to floods and cyclones. Although the capacity to respond is strong, given the magnitude of this cyclone, we think there could be gaps and that is why are sending three teams on the ground to assess the situation. We remain concerned until we can be sure the most urgent needs are covered.
Isn’t MSF position in contradiction with other international organisations (Save the children, etc) that are calling for big interventions and talking about 5,000 to 10,000 deaths?
MSF acknowledge the severity of the situation and regret the loss of life. At this stage the national response by the Government, UN and NGOs is massive and ongoing. We are assessing if there are unmet needs in health care provision and if we identify those we will respond. If others respond to the most urgent health needs in an adequate manner, we do not want to duplicate activities.
For more information, contact Sally McMillan on 0447 482 379, (02) 8570 2611 or sally.mcmillan@sydney.msf.org
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