Reports estimate more than 15,000 people were heavily affected by a recent fire that swept across a densely populated slum in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The left three people injured, and more than 2,000 houses damaged beyond repair. The local government has been working to place people in temporary shelters.

“Thousands of families are now homeless and are in need of non-food items, such as mosquito nets, clothes for children, cooking materials, and more,” says Victor Boidya, assistant emergency response management officer for ADRA in Bangladesh. “The need is overwhelming, especially for children. Parents are telling us they also want pillows and mattresses so their children can sleep at night.”

The weather in Bangladesh has been warm due to the Monsoon season, so the need for blankets has not been requested, says Boidya.

To avoid duplication of relief aid services, ADRA in Bangladesh has begun a needs assessment. They are in constant communication with local authorities to ensure operations go smoothly.

More information will be provided as it is made available.

ABOUT ADRA

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is the international humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its work empowers communities and changes lives around the globe by providing sustainable community development and disaster relief. For more information, visit ADRA.org.