This just came in from one of TEAR Fund’s partner organisations in Bangladesh as they prepare for Cylcone Mahasen. We are also getting updates from Myanmar. Please keep these places in your prayers. We are preparing our response should this turn into a drastic emergency situation that requires external assistance.

Cyclone Mahasen on May 12

Greetings from Bangladesh.

You all are aware that we are expecting cyclone Mahasen to hit the coastal areas of Bangladesh this afternoon. We are continuously communicating with our local staff, community people and Church leaders to get updates. We will do an emergency response if it’s necessary. Two of our partners have already given assurances that they may send their Medical Teams for rescue and treatment.

Already it’s raining heavily in many coastal areas, even in Dhaka. The government has evacuated nearly 1 million people in the meantime but many people are unwilling to move out to safety leaving behind their livestock and property. Already lots of preparation has been undertaken to minimize the loss and damages.

According to the United Nations, depending on its final trajectory, the cyclone could bring “life threatening'” conditions for 8.2 million people in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Millions of people remain vulnerable in the coastal region owing to an inadequate number of cyclone shelters and protection dykes.

We request all of you to remember the situation in your prayers so that the cyclone may become weaker and does less damage.

Regards,
Mark