Plan International Bangladesh responds to Cyclone Remal

A people-centred approach to recovery and safety.

Mohammad Shazed, Pongkaj Moy Tripura and Risat Ara Meem, Plan International Bangladesh

“The cyclone destroyed everything. Our house and our old toilet got flooded and became unusable. We could not rebuild another one and went into the open spaces.” – Bibi

Bibi lives in Bhola Sadar Upazila with her husband, who has a disability, and their three children. When Cyclone Remal struck, it destroyed their home and rendered the family’s only toilet unusable. With no safe alternative, they were left without privacy or security, heightening Bibi’s concern for her family’s health and safety. Her experience mirrors that of many families across Bhola, Barguna, and Patharghata Upazilas, where the cyclone left homes damaged and lives upended.

To address urgent needs, Plan International Bangladesh, in partnership with Sajida Foundation, Resource Development Foundation (RDF), and South-Asian Partnership Bangladesh (SAP-BD) took swift action. Leveraging a pre-disaster vulnerability assessment, the partners identified 225 of the most at-risk families, prioritising their safe evacuation and protection of essential assets. Following the cyclone, a Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) was carried out and the findings informed the design of the response plan. Immediate response began with cash distribution to 15,318 people of the affected regions of Bhola, Barguna and Patharghata districts, prioritising safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Over the following five months, the team constructed 396 toilet and repaired 95 tube wells, providing essential sanitation and clean water access to a population of 2,960 in the most affected areas (⇒WASH 2.1: Access and water quantity and WASH 3.2: Access to and use of toilets). Basic living necessities for about 23,152 affected people were addressed through the provision of 5,100 household and shelter items, along with hygiene kits and educational kits. These efforts aimed to meet the critical needs while adhering to Sphere Standards – including the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) and Protection Principles – reaching a total of 41,655 affected people.

The new toilets were designed to ensure dignity, safety, and accessibility, particularly for women, children, and families with disabilities. Built near households – within the 50 metres suggested by Sphere – they included pits over 1.5 meters deep to prevent contamination during floods (⇒WASH 3.2: Access to and use of toilets, key indicators). This careful design addressed immediate sanitation needs while also ensuring long-term resilience, in line with the CHS (⇒CHS Commitment 1, key actions 1.2 and CHS Commitment 3, key actions 3.6).

For Bibi, the toilet brought a sense of relief and security. “Now my children can use the toilet near our house without fear,” she said. Her 11-year-old son Hasnain added, “The old toilet was dirty and damaged. The new one is better and easy to use.”

Safe water access was equally critical. In flood-prone areas, repaired tube wells were raised by 6-12 inches, with drainage systems installed to avoid stagnant water and related health risks such as mosquito-borne diseases. The upgraded wells now provide a minimum of 15 litres of safe water per person per day (⇒WASH 2.1: Access and water quantity, key indicators), meeting needs for drinking, cooking and hygiene while ensuring essential services are delivered in a safe and risk-sensitive manner (⇒CHS Commitments 1, 2 and 3).

The intervention upheld the Protection Principles, prioritising dignity, inclusion, and safety for all. Child-friendly designs made facilities accessible for children, while hygiene promotion sessions on handwashing and safe water storage equipped families with practical, life-saving knowledge (⇒WASH 1.1: Hygiene promotion, guidance notes).

Localisation was central to the response, ensuring community voices shaped the intervention. Local stakeholders participated in decisions related to toilet placement and design, fostering ownership and long-term sustainability. This approach strengthened accountability and deepened community engagement (⇒CHS Commitment 4, key actions 4.3).

The impact was evident in the lives of families like Bibi’s. In Patharghata Upazila, Mohammad Abu Bokor shared his relief after the local tube well was repaired: “Before, we had to walk far and often drank dirty water. Now, clean water is just a few steps away.”

Safe water is no longer a dream for Abu Bokor, ensuring clean drinking water for his family.

Plan International and its partners put recognised global standards into action to protect and support those most affected. The response not only addressed immediate needs but also restored dignity, ensured safety, and built resilience among communities affected by Cyclone Remal.