The Bangladesh Traveller

Guide Tours Sundarban relief effort update

Posted on 08. Dec, 2007 by Mikey Leung in Sundarbans
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1st Field Report from The Guide Tours Ltd. Relief Efforts

On November 15th 2007 cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh; thousands of lives and homes were destroyed, hundreds of boats and men were lost in our coastal waters. The Sundarban forest took a heavy blow.

Within hours we received word from friends around the world, extending their hands and contributing to our relief efforts. We are overwhelmed by the support we are receiving, and would like to thank all of you. There is no way we can express our gratitude or describe our experiences in the field adequately, but rest assured that your support is greatly appreciated.

Our wooden trawler R.B. Emma left from Khulna on November 21st, loaded with 2200 kilos of rice, 100 kilos of lentils, 100 kilos of salt, 100 liters of soy bean oil, bags of onions, chilies, matches, candles, jerry cans with potable water, oral rehydration salt and water purification tablets (total cost 500 US$), and set out for the Sundarban forest. Fishermen and Forest Department staff at Dubla and Shela char, Kokilmoni, Katka, Kochikhali, Supoti, Horintana and along the way received basic supplies from our crew and members of the Sundarban Tiger Project Team.

On November 23rd our tourist vessel M.V. Chhuti set out towards the forest with a total of about 6000 US$ worth of goods, including 10,000 liters of potable water, 3000 kilos of rice, 1050 kilos of potatoes, 500 kilos of lentils, 500 kilos of salt, 496 liters of soy bean oil, 487 kilos of onions, 93 kilos of chilies, 92 kilos of garlic, 300 cooking pots, 600 jerry cans (4-liter), soap, matches, and clothes (sari, lunghi, gamcha). Our friends Siraj & Rony had raised 3660 US$ in addition to used clothes, 40 boxes of biscuits, 3 bags of puffed rice, molasses, 50 blankets and other relief materials. They accompanied our crew on the three day relief operation, starting from Khulna early in the morning, and passing by Harintana, Tiar Char and Kokilmoni Forest stations. The next day the team reached Dubla island, where they distributed goods to fishermen as well as the forest office staff.

From Dubla they headed over to Kotka and Katchikhali forest station, where more goods were distributed among fishermen, grass cutters and forest staff. On their way north they stopped at Supoti forest station and distributed relief0 materials there as well as to fishermen encountered on way. A total of 350 fishermen and forest staff received relief from us.

The next day was spent in Sarankhola. They visited Khuriakhali and Chalitabuni, where about 350 families or 1200 people received relief materials. The team developed a system by which each family was visited, their needs assessed and given a slip with their immediate requirements stated. They could then collect the specified goods from our vessel. This ensured that everybody, including the Hindu community, received the most urgently required relief materials. The team encountered no chaos as described by other organizations, partly due to a great job done by Alam from the Sundarban Tiger Project, our local field coordinator.

M.V. Chhuti returned to Khulna on the 26th, where she was refueled, reloaded with 6500 US$ worth of relief materials and prepared to set off again. On the 27th the vessel arrived at Sarankhola early in the morning. The team visited Terabeka and the Southkhali area, where relief slips were distributed to about 330 families or 1350 people, including over 200 infants. By midday of 28th, the team had distributed 2500 kilos of rice, 1000 kilos of potatoes, 1000 3-liter water bottles, 500 kilos of salt, 500 kilos of onions, 250 kilos of lentils, 250 liters of soy bean oil, 200 packets of milk powder, 50 kilos of chilies, 1000 sweaters, 250 saris, 250 lunghis, 200 blankets, 250 towels, matches, candles, oral rehydration salt, water purification tablets along with lots of individual gift packets containing clothes, toiletries, soap, dry food items and toys donated by the students of the American International School in Dhaka. The crew returned to Khulna, where many of them finally got a chance to repair their own homes damaged by the cyclone.

Our next relief transport is planned for the end of this week, focussing mainly on infants, children and pregnant women. In addition to distributing basic food items and warm clothes, we will start assisting the construction of basic shelters. We have so far received 212’000 Tk. (3228 US$) in cash and 8705 US$ via money transfers from friends all around the world. Locally we have been presented with boxes and bags of used or new clothes by individuals, private and corporate companies. All relief supplies are purchased locally, mostly from Mongla or Khulna ensuring minimal transport expenses and support of local farmers. The
Shohag Bus company has kindly provided free transport for the donated goods from Dhaka to Khulna.

There is really no way in which we can thank all of you for your contributions.

Rest assured that you are helping us make a difference!

For the entire Guide Tours family,

Elisabeth Fahrni Mansur
CEO
The Guide Tours Ltd.
Darpan Complex, Gulshan-II
Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
Tel: 880-2-9862205, 9886983
Fax: 880-2-98869834
Web: www.guidetours.com
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