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ACT News UpdateBangladesh 01/04ACT members respond to cold wave in BangladeshAccording to Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS), a member of the
global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International in
Bangladesh, more than 220 people have died from the cold in the north,
northwestern and central parts of the country. Temperatures of 6 to
12 degrees Celcius (43 to 54 Fahrenheit), along with chilly wind and
heavy fog, have swept across these regions. Especially hard hit are
poor residents of rural areas who cannot go outside to work and thus
cannot earn income. RDRS, along with other ACT members in Bangladesh - Christian Commission
for Development, Church of Bangladesh, Social Health and Education
Development Board, and KOINONIA - are planning a short-term emergency-relief
program that will distribute 8,400 blankets and 5,500 shawls (wrappers)
to 13,900 families. These members have already distributed some winter
clothes and blankets to affected people. The ACT coordinating office is providing $50,000 in assistance through
its Rapid Response Fund mechanism. Media reports say that seed beds of winter rice in different parts
of the country are also severely affected by the cold. According to
long-range forecasts by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department,
the northwest, north and central regions of the country could experience
one to two more moderate to severe cold spells with fog in the remainder
of January.
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