Bangladesh: Dangerous Cyclone Mocha expected to make landfall on Sunday putting 1.5 million children at risk

Toronto, May 13, 2023 – More than 1.5 million children are at risk, as Cyclone Mocha is expected to make landfall near the Bangladesh boarder on Sunday morning and threatens to be a major humanitarian disaster.[i]

Cox’s Bazar Rohingya refugee camp, the largest in the world, is home to half a million children who live in poorly structured shelters and are at risk of being severely affected by high wind speeds during the landfall of Cyclone Mocha.[ii]

4.6 million people will be exposed to wind speeds of over 110 kilometers per hour and rough seas could reach astronomical surge heights of 12 feet as the dangerous cyclone crosses Cox’s Bazar coast tomorrow morning.[iii] There are fears it will result in a major humanitarian crisis leading to death, injury, displacement, and psychosocial damage. Around 2.8 million people are at risk of displacement in the wake of this cyclonic storm.[iv]

Onno van Manen, Save the Children’s Country Director in Bangladesh, said: “We are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of half a million children living in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar and another million children in the host communities.[v] Considering the living conditions and poor shelter structures in Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, Cyclone Mocha could put many lives at risk. We are also concerned about the population living in the coastal areas and landslide-prone areas of Bangladesh. It’s vital that we protect vulnerable communities from the effects of extreme weather.”

Save the Children’s teams are closely monitoring the situation and preparing to respond. Volunteers have been supporting evacuation efforts from landslide prone areas and the aid organization has an emergency medical team on standby to move to affected areas.

 Onno van Manen, Save the Children’s Country Director in Bangladesh, concluded; “Our teams are closely monitoring the situation and working tirelessly in the camps, rushing to repair and tighten the loose and damaged structures so that we can minimize the loss during the cyclone in Cox’s Bazar. Our teams in coastal areas are prepared for an emergency response. We have large quantities of medical supplies and emergency shelter kits located at Cox’s Bazar and are ready to distribute them.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

[i]According to the latest data from UNHCR Bangladesh is home to 982,772 refugees

[ii] According to the latest Unicef data there are half a million children living in Cox’s Bazar refugee camp

[iii] According to the Situation Overview and Anticipatory Impact Analysis Cyclone Mocha 4.6 million people will be exposed to 118 hm/hr wind speeds.

[iv] According to the Situation Overview and Anticipatory Impact Analysis Cyclone Mocha 2.8 million people are estimated to be displaced

[v] According to the latest Unicef data there are half a million children living in Cox’s Bazar refugee camp