Hailstorms followed by a violent tornado left 55 people dead in Bangladesh's northern districts of Gaibanda and Rangpur on 20th March. Severe weather in other parts of Bangladesh raised the death toll to 83.

Many people are still living in the open without shelter, food, sanitation, household possessions, and with few clothes. Officials estimate that upwards of 25,000 people have been made homeless by the extreme weather.

Thousands of homes were wiped out across a 3 to 5km stretch of land, along with 200 shops and 60 acres of rice and wheat crops. The tornado also tore down power lines, blocked main roads with fallen trees, and killed 300 head of livestock and over 80% of all poultry stock.

Aid Effort

The local government working in partnership with a local aid agency sent out rescue teams. Medical teams were on the scene within hours of the disaster and hundreds of injured people were rushed to nearby hospitals.

The immediate needs of the affected population are medicine, temporary shelter, clean water, sanitation facilities and food.

Islamic Relief Action

The Islamic Relief team is in the Gaibanda district of Bangladesh which bore the impact of the tornado. Over €22,400 will be spent in bringing food and medicine to the affected population.

IR is planning to support 20,000 people with food in the main towns of Gaibanda and Rangpur. Two truckloads of rice, lentils, oil and salt were distributed in Gaibanda on 26th March.

A medical team comprising a doctor, five nurses and five health organisers has been sent to the area. The team has already treated nearly 500 of the injured across four districts.

Your donations can help provide victims of the disaster with desperately needed food and medicine.