Cyclone Amphan: UN chief
commends India, Bangladesh for saving lives
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| Destruction and flooding in Burigoalini, Bangladesh, after Cyclone Amphan (AFP) |
The United Nations chief commends India and Bangladesh for
taking life-saving measures ahead of the deadly Cyclone Amphan. UN
Secretary-General António Guterres also praises their effective relief efforts.
By Robin Gomes
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his sadness
at the loss of lives after the most powerful cyclone in over a decade ripped
through the densely populated coastal areas of eastern India’s West Bengal and
Odishas states, and Bangladesh on Wednesday afternoon.
Cyclone Amphan packed rain and winds of up to 170 kph, with
maximum gusts of 190 kph, when it crashed ashore, flooding vast areas.
The natural disaster further exacerbated the two nations’
battle against Covid-19, compromising efforts to maintain physical distancing.
Condolence
In a brief statement on Saturday, Guterres’ spokesman
Stèphane Dujarric said that the Secretary-General “is saddened by the loss of
lives and destruction as a result of Cyclone Amphan in India and Bangladesh”.
“He extends his deep condolences to those who have lost their loved ones and
wishes those injured and affected by the disaster a speedy recovery.”
Pre-emptive action and relief work
More than 3 million people were evacuated in both nations
before Amphan made landfall, preventing a large number of deaths.
Guterres commended “the governments, first responders and
communities for their pre-emptive work to make people safe ahead of the storm
and to meet their immediate needs afterwards.” The UN chief also expressed
solidarity with the people of India and Bangladesh as they face the impact of a
devastating cyclone while also responding to the impacts of the Covid-19
pandemic.
Trail of destruction
According to West Bengal State officials, the cyclone has
caused damage of USD13 billion to infrastructure and crops in seven districts.
In neighbouring Bangladesh, officials initially put the
damage at USD130 million, saying it could rise.
The two countries have lost at least 102 people in the
cyclone, mostly because of house collapses and electrocution.
The cyclone has affected more than 13 million people - some
losing houses, crops and lands - and over 1.5 million houses have been damaged,
two West Bengal government officials said.
In West Bengal State capital, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta),
authorities struggled to remove debris from roads and clear trees that fell as
rain and winds of 133 kmh pounded the city of 14 million for hours.
On Friday, the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi,
announced a USD132 million emergency relief package to West Bengal, after
travelling to the region to survey the damage.
Cyclone compounds COVID-19 crisis
Hundreds of thousands are in relief camps across West Bengal
and Bangladesh amid fear that lax social distancing norms could fuel a spread
of coronavirus cases.
In Bangladesh, there are currently more than 35,000
confirmed cases of Covid-19 and over 500 deaths. Jens Laerke, spokesperson for
the UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA), said on Friday the government had
evacuated around two million people before the storm hit.
The country had more than 12,000 cyclone shelters set up
with Covid-19 prevention equipment, including masks, sanitizers, soap and handwashing
facilities.
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