Bangladesh Disaster
Source: World Concern - USA
Rhonda Manville
Website: http://www.worldconcern.org
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
Previous
| Next
A family in Dhaka, Bangladesh, transports their belongings in the filthy floodwaters. Disease is on the rise.
World Concern Staff
World Concern Staff
World Concern Responding to Bangladesh Disaster
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 10, 2007
Seattle World Concern is responding to widespread flooding and the threat of disease in Bangladesh by distributing oral rehydration solutions, water purification tablets and medicine to more than 10,000 families in the capitol city of Dhaka and surrounding villages.
The floods have displaced more than 7 million people and submerged two-thirds of the country. Water and food supplies are contaminated and hospitals are overrun with people suffering from severe diarrhea and other water-borne illnesses. These illnesses are fatal when people lack clean water to drink. More than 230 people have died, health officials reported, and disease is on the rise.
"The response will combine immediate assistance to ensure the health and well-being of families as well as follow-up to ensure that the most vulnerable families do not default on their (microcredit) loans, protecting both their future access to credit as well as the future of the microcredit program," said World Concern's Merry Fitzpatrick, director of Disaster Response.
World Concern has been working in Bangladesh for more that 15 years and employs 300 Bangladeshi staff members in an extensive micro-credit program that successfully assists thousands of families each year toward working their way out of poverty. We also support the needs of impoverished children through a Child Sponsorship program.
Seattle-based World Concern relieves suffering among the world's poorest people, focusing on basic needs, sustainable livelihoods and family stability. Services include disaster aid, food, medicine, education, small business loans - many earmarked for women - and agricultural training. Last year World Concern served 5.6 million people suffering from hunger, HIV/AIDS and hopelessness. For more information on World Concern, check the website at worldconcern.org.
Contact: Rhonda Manville
(206) 909-4776 (cell)
rhondam@worldconcern.org
World Concern
19303 Fremont Ave. North
Seattle, WA 98133
800-755-5022
206-546-7201
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
