Cyclone Sidr Pollutes Water
UNICEF and The George Harrison Fund Provide Life Saving Assistance
Dec 4, 2007
People continue to be exposed to serious health risks from the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr. It struck on November 15 in Bangladesh but the negative health effects from polluted water and the struggle to survive continue.
Children in Bangladesh
- At least 300,000 children under the age of 5 are living in camps without access to proper food and water. Many are being forced to drink and cook with polluted water that has been through the storm and picked up diseases from garbage and dead animals.
- Tons of children already suffer from malnourishment in Bangladesh so are more vulnerable to diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia and typhoid. According to UNICEF and the last government figures, 8.5 million people have been affected by the Cyclone and half of those are children.
- Food shortages have become a problem because so many crops have been destroyed by the Cyclone along with livestock. Food prices are expected to continue to climb as supplies becomes less available.
- UNICEF has a long-term plan for distributing BP-5 biscuits and family kits beginning on December 5. They will be distributed to children under 3 as well as pregnant and lactating women. BP-5 is a high-energy biscuit containing much needed nutrients such as protein and vitamins. Save the Children USA, The World Food Program and local NGO’s are also involved in the distribution program.
On December 3, 2007, The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF announced a 450,000 donation towards relief for Cyclone Sidr victims in Bangladesh. UNICEF’s total funding needs are estimated at 30 million dollars.
- George Harrison had a history with Bangladesh and UNICEF. He had a big benefit concert back in 1971 featuring other musicians such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell and Billy Preston. The concert inspired many future benefit concerts such as Live Aid and Band Aid.
- In 2005, his widow Olivia Harrison launched the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF in her late husbands name with a donation of one million dollars. They specifically target programs in Bangladesh but have assisted victims of natural disasters and poverty in other locations.
UNICEF receives $6 for each sale of the CD “Concert for Bangladesh with George Harrison and Friends” For more information on how to help see The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF or UNICEF’s United States Fund.
Sources: (George Harrison Fund for UNICEF Announces Donation, New York, Dec.3,UNICEF, Aftermath of Bangladesh Cyclone, New York, Khaka, Nov.30, 2007, UNICEF)
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