Natural disasters are cataclysmic events that can have a direct or indirect impact on the public's health and well-being. These can include tornados, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, tsunamis or seaquakes, wildfires and even extreme heat or cold.

Natural disasters can kill tens and even hundreds of thousands of people in just a few minutes. Natural disasters are particularly devastating if a city or country is unprepared for such an event. Natural disasters can destroy entire cities and countries and cause billions of dollars worth of damage. Power outages and fires can occur. The aftermath of an event like a cyclone ‘Cidr’ or ‘Aila’ can result in death, destruction and decay. Dead bodies can cause outbreaks of disease, sickness, starvation and prolonged misery.

Like other years in December 2009, Bangladesh’s northern and south-west region experienced a severe cold wave. The cold wave combined with dense fog has had an adverse impact on the agriculture and fisheries sector as well as the quality of life of normal people. Poor people in the northern region of the country had been the worst affected. Struggling to ward off the night cold, the local population had faced a significant rise in respiratory illnesses, and in some cases death. Generally cold waves (4°C - 6°C) sweep across the northern and central parts of the country during each winter season (December-January).

Masjid Council feels people’s sufferings resulted from natural calamities. Earlier in 2007 and 2008 the organization did extend its hands of cooperation to he victims of cyclone and flood. As part of its emergency responses program in 2009 Masjid Council distributed warm clothes (blankets, sweaters etc.) among the poor people in 17 districts. Table 11 details out the figures below: