World Vision prepares communities for Cyclone Mahasen

Chittagong, BANGLADESH —As Tropical Cyclone Mahasen travels north-east through the Bay of Bengal, humanitarian agency World Vision is prepared to mount a relief response across vulnerable areas in Bangladesh, Myanmar, India and Sri Lanka. The cyclone’s current path anticipates landfall in Bangladesh this Friday.

The highest impact, tidal surge and rainfall are predicted to hit Chittagong and Cox Bazaar areas in Bangladesh but could also threaten at least 8.2 million people, many of them children, living along the coastlines of northeast India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

As part of preparedness measures, World Vision has mobilized relief workers and community volunteers, enacted community disaster response plans, opened emergency operations shelters and is working with partners to support evacuees.

"Our staff in all four countries are working closely with their governments to maximize preparedness measures. We hope with preparedness plans in place, unnecessary loss of lives can be minimized and the wellbeing of children can be prioritized. It is better to be over-prepared in a situation where multiple countries are at risk of being impacted," said Angelina Theodora, World Vision Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Advisor for Asia Pacific.

In Bangladesh, Word Vision is ready to distribute hygiene kits, food and other survival items, along with setting up emergency shelters and child friendly spaces.

World Vision in Myanmar is partnering with state agencies in Rakhine state – an area projected to be hit by the cyclone – to make relief supplies, survival packs and clean water available for immediate distribution.

In India and Sri Lanka, World Vision has helped create community task forces to prepare for emergencies and helped with the evacuation of communities. Relief supplies are also in place and ready to meet the immediate needs of those who will be affected.

The Asia and Pacific region is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters. World Vision prioritizes disaster risk reduction in its disaster management programming, including prevention, mitigation and preparedness.

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