IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE

MILLIONS OF CHILDREN AT RISK IN MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH IN THE AFTERMATH OF CYCLONE MOCHA

Arafat Rahman

The path of annihilation left by Typhoon Mocha – which tore through pieces of Bangladesh and Myanmar on Sunday – is making extreme disturbance the existences of millions of weak youngsters and families, remembering many previously living for desperate circumstances. The risk of landslides remains high even after the worst of the storm has passed, and additional threats, such as water-borne diseases, are likely to increase in the coming days.

On May 14, around 15:00 local time, Cyclone Mocha struck the Bangladesh and Myanmar coastlines, bringing heavy rain, storm surges, and winds up to 175 mph.

“An additional crisis that they did not cause is putting some of the most vulnerable children and families in the world in the crosshairs. The regions hit hardest by the tempest are home to networks previously residing through struggle, neediness, flimsiness, and environment and ecological shocks,” said UNICEF’s Leader Chief Catherine Russell. ” We are absolutely certain that the best way to save and improve the lives of children and their families is to find long-term solutions as we urgently assess and respond to their immediate needs following this cyclone.”

The storm subsided late on Sunday, causing the destruction of hospitals, schools, homes, and other essential infrastructure. Most of the hundreds of thousands of people affected are refugees or internally displaced people (IDPs), who live in camps and hard-to-reach areas in poorly organized shelters. They heavily rely on humanitarian assistance for water, food, health, education, protection, and other necessities.

Myanmar has a particularly troubling situation. More than 16 million people, including 1.2 million internally displaced Rohingya, ethnic Rakhine, and other communities, were in the path of the cyclone in Rakhine State, Chin State, Sagaing, and Magway Regions, and 5.6 million of them were children. The low-lying areas are particularly vulnerable to flooding and landslides.

It is difficult to determine the extent of the damage in Myanmar because of the disruptions to transportation and telecommunications services and the inaccessibility of some roads caused by fallen trees and debris. However, early reports indicate that children were among the storm’s victims.

In Bangladesh, home to the world’s biggest evacuee camp in Cox’s Bazar, 1,000,000 Rohingya exiles confronted the brunt of the weighty tempests, a big part of them kids. Children are exposed to conditions that are ripe for disease, malnutrition, neglect, exploitation, and violence in the refugee camps, which are among the most congested places on the planet. The camps are additionally inclined to landslides, and kids live in delicate brief asylums.

Tornado Mocha has attached with 2019’s Typhoon Fani as the most grounded storm at any point kept in the North Indian Sea. Scientists recently discovered that climate change threatens the progress that disaster management efforts have made in reducing the number of deaths caused by cyclones in recent years. They pointed out that Bangladesh will be much more vulnerable in the coming decades due to an increase in the frequency and severity of storms.

While Cox’s Bazar was saved the eye of the tempest, a great many individuals have been impacted and a few impermanent sanctuaries, offices, and framework that outcasts have been given have overflowed and passed on seriously harmed because of weighty breezes and rains.

Convenient and dire helpful admittance to the impacted regions in the two nations is basic. On the ground, UNICEF assesses requirements and provides immediate assistance. Along with nearby accomplices, UNICEF is prepositioning and sending supplies in Bangladesh and Myanmar to increase our reaction administrations, including water and disinfection, kid assurance, wellbeing, sustenance, and training.

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