Cyclone Aila hit the Bangladesh's south-western coast on May 25, 2009 killing around 200 people and washing away several thousand homes, as wind-driven tidal surge inundated vast tracts of land. Heavy rains triggered by the cyclone raised river levels and burst mud embankments, flooding homes and washed away numerous fisheries. A large number of domestic animals and standing crops on farmland were lost in the surge.

The government said crops on 68,385 acres of land have been damaged completely and those on 2,39,212 acres partially. A total of 42,038 houses have been flattened and 1,98,823 damaged. 258.5 km of road in the 14 districts have been destroyed.

Immediately after the cyclone, the government deployed army and navy to help local administration and non-government organizations in rescue and relief operations. After the cataclysm Friendship also initiated a relief and emergency medical health camp programme in Bagerhat, Barguna and Patuakhali districts.

Friendship is in the process of providing 3000 relief packets which include rice, pulse, candles, matches, salt and ORS. Friendship has already been distributed 1631 packets in the 3 most affected districts of Bagerhat, Patuakhali and Barguna.

On May 31, Friendship also started its medical activities in Sharonkhola, Taltoli and Kuakata and continued till 20th June. Four medical teams of Friendship have treated about 3322 patients in all 3 areas.

In Sharonkhola two medical teams have worked and one medical team has worked in each Taltoli and Kuakata. The following table describes details of patient treated in the medical camp:

Most of the diagnoses are related to physical injury, body ache, pneumonia, Diarrhea, fever, common cold and few cases of dysentry. About 30% of the patients are male, 50% of them are female and the rest 20% are children. Medical teams are also distributing ORS and water purifying tablets.