Life after Cyclone Remal - UN Volunteers respond to the crisis in Bangladesh
By UN Volunteers
August 15th, 2025
DISRUPTING THE RYTHM OF LIFE
When Cyclone Remal slammed into southeastern Bangladesh on May 26, 2024, it wasn’t just the homes and roads that were torn apart—it was the rhythm of life itself. Classified as a 'severe' cyclonic storm, Remal is the first one to occur in the Bay of Bengal during the 2024 pre-monsoon season. Whole villages vanished beneath rising floodwaters, and vibrant paddy fields turned into lifeless swamps overnight. The storm didn’t just uproot trees; it uprooted futures. Over 4.6 million people, most of them smallholder farmers, saw their crops, livestock, and livelihoods swept away.
SEEDS OF PURPOSE
In these darkest moments, it was UN Volunteers who were the first responders on the ground. Among them, Anamul Kabir, a UN Community Volunteer serving with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). He worked with teams on the ground, helping communities rebuild after the cyclone.
With support from the Government of Belgium, FAO in Bangladesh implemented an emergency plan to restore food security and agricultural livelihoods. Driven by FAO’s mission to end hunger and support sustainable farming, the initiative gave seeds, fertilizers, and tools to more than 36,200 people—helping them grow food, improve nutrition, and strengthen their communities across Bhola, Noakhali, Feni, Cumilla, and Khagrachhari.
Anamul played a key role in reaching the hardest-hit communities. He distributed vital supplies such as bags of seeds to farmers who had lost everything.
"These weren’t just supplies," Anamul shared. "They were a promise of renewal, a chance to rebuild lives and livelihoods. Seeing the damage was heartbreaking, but being able to help even in a small way meant everything to me."
In another extremely affected district, Monpura, Anamul witnessed firsthand the emotional impact of this support. As he placed a sack of seeds into a farmer’s hands, he saw not just gratitude, but the slow bloom of something stronger—hope.
For Fatima, a mother of three, that small bag of seeds was more than hope—it was a lifeline. It held the promise of meals on the table, strength for her children, and a future she could begin to shape with her own hands. “This assistance will help a lot,” she said with a heartfelt smile. “We’ll have a new start in life—by planting these seeds and growing crops.”
In another extremely affected district, Monpura, Anamul witnessed firsthand the emotional impact of this support. As he placed a sack of seeds into a farmer’s hands, he saw not just gratitude, but the slow bloom of something stronger—hope.
For Fatima, a mother of three, that small bag of seeds was more than hope—it was a lifeline. It held the promise of meals on the table, strength for her children, and a future she could begin to shape with her own hands. “This assistance will help a lot,” she said with a heartfelt smile. “We’ll have a new start in life—by planting these seeds and growing crops.”
“Volunteerism, to me, is about standing beside communities in their hardest moments and showing them they’re not alone. With each seed sown, the journey to recovery has truly begun.” Anamul Kabir, UN Volunteer with FAO.
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS
Anamul was joined by fellow UN Volunteers Rakesh, Rasha, Sadia, and Stephen. With deep local knowledge, they built trust with community leaders, rallied support, and quickly understood what people needed most. Using mobile surveys and face-to-face conversations, they gathered real-time feedback and turned it into clear, shareable data. But more than that, these volunteers became the bridge—connecting communities to solutions and making sure no one was left unheard or unseen. Their work shows why local voices matter and why community volunteers are essential to making humanitarian efforts truly inclusive and effective.
FROM AID TO AWARENESS
The volunteers didn’t stop at handing out supplies. They made sure every resource was used wisely—personal stories from communities to group discussions on how to stay safe during emergencies—they gathered insights that will shape better disaster responses in the future.
Stephen Bawm was one of the five UN Volunteers in this crisis response. He served as a part-time UN Community Volunteer. Stephen belongs to the Bawm community, one of the rarest ethnic minority groups in Bangladesh.
Reflecting on the overall impact, Azzizun Nahar Tania, Assistant Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at FAO, shared:
“UN Volunteers played a crucial role in FAO’s emergency response efforts, particularly ensuring last-mile distribution. Their dedication and enthusiasm were evident as they actively supported mobile wallet verifications and brought back rich, human-centred stories from the field. We deeply appreciate their contributions to strengthening both our response and accountability.”
WHERE HOPE BEGINS
World Humanitarian Day celebrates the everyday heroes who show up when disaster hits—aid workers, community volunteers, and anyone lending a hand. It’s a powerful reminder of how compassion and action can change lives. Whether it’s delivering food, offering shelter, or simply being there.
In the quiet moments between disaster and recovery, volunteers like Anamul, Rakesh, Rasha, Sadia, and Stephen reflect FAO’s mission: ending hunger by building strong communities and supporting sustainable farming.
And with every seed sown, they give life to FAO’s timeless motto: “Fiat Panis — Let there be bread.”
FootnotesUN Community Volunteer assignments of Anamul Kabir, Sadia Kazi and Rakesh Shams were funded by the Special Voluntary Fund (SVF), an open trust fund, through which volunteers can be deployed swiftly for crisis and emergencies around the world along with championing volunteerism for sustainable development.
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