Cyclone Remal: The Reality Behind Preparedness Efforts in a Remote Union

By: Ferdousi Akter Mishu, Sonia Binte Murshed, Ahmed Ishtiaque Amin Chowdhury, Shampa, Md. Hasanur Rahman, Md. Monirul Islam, Komal Rathod, and Akriti Sharma

Context

Cyclones are not a surprise to the residents of Gabura, a coastal island union in southwestern Bangladesh. Because of its proximity to the Bay of Bengal, this area faces direct or indirect impacts of any cyclone that hits southeast Asia. Impacts may include high wind velocity, storm/tidal surges, intense rainfall, embankment overtopping or breaching, or inundation. Despite early warning systems and evacuation announcements by the Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), many individuals do not take the warnings seriously until the storm intensifies significantly. This delayed response to warnings highlights a critical gap between awareness and action in disaster preparedness. 

Initial Assessment of Cyclone Remal’s Impact on Vulnerable Communities in Shyamnagar Upazila

The most recent Cyclone Remal struck coastal Bangladesh at approximately 8 p.m. on May 26, 2024.^[1]

Following Cyclone Remal landfall, a team of researchers from the Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) visited different unions (last administrative units of local government) of Shyamnagar Upazila in the Satkhira. IWFM is conducting a research project as a part of the Center for Climate and Health Global Research on Disasters (CORD). The CORD consortium works to protect health and build resilience in climate-related disasters. Center researchers collect and analyze data on the health effects of climate-related disasters, illuminating how vulnerable populations are affected around the world. 

IWFM’s visit was to assess the cyclone Remal’s impact on the vulnerable community in the light of  IWFM’s larger research objective to understand the impact of flooding and water salinity on maternal health, and the anticipatory taken by community members in anticipation of flooding. This visit also helped informed site selection for planned surveys. 

The impact of the cyclone

While Munshiganj and Burigoalini, unions of Shyamnagar Upazila, did not suffer severe damage, the island of Gabura did. According to the residents, cyclone Remal persisted for approximately 24 hours following landfall on 26^th June. They explained that when the embankments were damaged and flooding, Gabura experienced inundation (typically 1.5–2 feet). Tidal waters have risen 3 to 4 feet above normal levels at Gabura.^[2]

Anticipatory actions taken by local authorities 

Beginning on May 25, CPP and BDRCS volunteers disseminated early warnings about Cyclone Remal and encouraged people to evacuate to cyclone evacuation centers. The dissemination efforts included broadcasting through mosques, hoisting flags, and spreading messages. BDRCS volunteers prioritized safe evacuation for pregnant women, disabled people, and the elderly and assisted local people in reaching shelters. 

Condition of transportation and infrastructure/ Choice of evacuation routes

The already poor road conditions worsened during the flood, and hindered shelter evacuation routes. As a result of this, some residents – specifically women – chose to stay at home to protect their livestock and care for their sick, elderly, and disabled family members. For instance, one woman initially chose not to seek shelter as she did not take the cyclone warning seriously in addition to the long distance of cyclone shelter from her home and her desire to protect her home during the storm. At around 1:30 AM, however, Cyclone Remal reached a peak speed of 111 km/h^[1] and the heavy storm collapsed her house. She decided to go to a mosque that was being used as a temporary shelter, but slipped on the road. Her neighbors assisted her in reaching the mosque. 

Availability and condition of the shelters

Gabura Union has a total of 17 cyclone shelters However, these shelters face constraints such as lack of food and potable water, inadequate sanitation facilities, insufficient space, inadequate privacy for women and adolescents, lack of adequate medical facilities, and poor accessibility to the shelter for people with disabilities. “The limited space at shelters often leads to conflicts among residents,” a BDRCS volunteer mentioned. Residents on average stayed for 2-3 days at the shelter and reported that they consumed dry foods and water were brought from their homes. Despite these challenges, the shelter closer to the road (embankment) of Gabura received some aid such as khichuri from the Union Parishad and medical facilities from the community health clinic. However, these were not enough based on their needs and priorities. 

Lebubunia, a village in Gabura Union, lacks a community health clinic and a cyclone shelter. Men worked on repairing the damaged embankment, while women sheltered in a shop and a two-story building, where they stayed for two days. During this time, no help arrived. Until the weather normalized, their only means of survival were the dry foods and water they brought. 

Differing accounts of access to medical facilities

We interviewed a community health care provider (CHCP) at one of the union’s four community health clinics during our visit in Chandnimukha. “We had basic medicines (Paracetamol, ORS, first aid kits, etc.) and a medical team at the Chandnimukha shelter for any emergency,” he stated. The CHCP mentioned that the shelter medical staff handled minor difficulties during Remal and referred more severe cases to the Upazila. However, this applied only to the Chandnimukha shelter; we found no evidence of further medical assistance at other shelters in Gabura. When individuals in need lack access to even the most basic forms of medical care, expecting maternal health care services at the shelter seems unrealistic.

Indeed, during Cyclone Remal, local women residents reported no emergency provisions for pregnant women at the shelter. They did not receive support from the shelter management committee or the community health service team. Instead of prioritizing obtaining emergency medicines for their pregnancy, they focused on safeguarding their assets and important documents. Some women in Harishkhali village obtained emergency medicine from a local pharmacy. 

Looking Ahead

Reports, newspapers, and TV channels indicated that people in the shelters received food, medical support, and sanitation facilities. However, conversations with local residents in Gabura revealed a different situation. That leads us to wonder – does this discrepancy stem from Gabura’s remoteness and misrepresentation in the reports or did the news coverage only extend support to specific communities?

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Resources

^[1] https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/bangladesh-cyclone-remal-emergency-appeal-no-mdrbd035#:~:text=The%20severe%20cyclonic%20storm%20Remal,Khepupara%20of%20Patuakhali%20coastal%20district

^[2]https://www.dailymessenger.net/country/news/20599

Disclosure

“Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P20ES036118. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.”