‘We are very happy to receive shelter and other non food relief, as previous relief distributed did not include these essentials. But now that winter is fast approaching we would need further support as soon as possible to cope with the winter.’

These statements were echoed by hundreds of people who received shelter kits and other relief materials on the first day of a relief programme for the cyclone Aila affected Dacope Upazila of the Khulna district. The relief is being provided by International Organization for Migration (IOM), with funding from UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and in partnership with Khulna based NGOs Prodipon and Rupantar.

”We are confident that with some external assistance and with the resilient nature of Bangladeshis, the affected community will very soon recover from their losses,” says Ms. Rabab Fatima, Regional Representative of IOM in Dhaka.

IOM is providing shelter kits containing plastic sheeting, rope, cleats, and basic non-food items, consisting of buckets, jerry cans, mosquito nets and blankets to more than 24,000 families (120,000 people) living in the south-western Khulna Division, which was particularly affected by cyclone Aila. The distribution began on 10 November and will continue through December.

On the first day at Kalibazar Launch Ghat settlement, 400 such families gathered to collect their relief materials. Families came with children and elders on foot or by boat and waited with much patience and in queue to have their turn. Earlier, IOM conducted a house to house survey in order to determine those beneficiaries who were eligible for the relief with the help of the Union Parishad.

Mr. Carl Morgan Jenkins, Project Manager, IOM and Mr. Bidhu Narayan, Chairman, Sutarkhali Union Parishad of Dacope upazila oversaw the distribution process, along with representatives from partner NGOs and other government agencies. Prodipon, GoB and local government were also present during the relief distribution.

‘With the winter fast approaching, the shelter materials provided by IOM will be very useful for the cyclone Aila affected displaced population,” said Mr. Atiur Rahman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Dakope Upazila.

For more information please contact Asif Munier or Marufa Akter at IOM Dhaka. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Tel. +880.2.988.9765