The Korail slum is located in the heart of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Separated only by a lake from the affluent district of Gulshan, an estimated 350,000 people live there under extremely difficult conditions—crammed together in makeshift shelters with barely any access to basic infrastructure.
On November 25, a disaster struck this already fragile environment: a devastating fire destroyed large parts of the settlement and plunged countless people into existential hardship.
A fire that spread relentlessly
Likely triggered by exploding gas cylinders, the fire spread rapidly through the densely built-up area. The narrow, winding alleys made access extremely difficult for the emergency responders.
The fire department was able to fight the fire from the lake side, but from the land side it was nearly impossible to reach the flames. It took a long time before the fire was finally brought under control.
Only then did the full extent of the destruction become visible:
Many people lost their homes and all their belongings.
The school remains intact – but the families have lost everything.
In the heart of Korail is the school supported by Austrian Doctors, serving nearly 300 children. Fortunately, it was spared from the fire; only the roof was damaged during firefighting efforts. However, the majority of the approximately 220 families whose children attend this school have lost everything and are now facing a pile of rubble.
In an emotional message, the on-site project coordinator, Babul Amnul Hoq, reached out to the Austrian Doctors office: “…the families of these students have lost everything in this tragic incident and are currently in an extremely vulnerable condition. We request your kind attention and necessary guidance regarding further steps for supporting our affected students and their families.”
Since the school building is in good condition, we can continue our medical work in Korail and thus help maintain basic healthcare services. The need has now increased even more due to this fire.
Emergency aid begins: Food for over 1,200 people
Starting tomorrow, Austrian Doctors will begin preparing hot meals directly in the affected area for the school children and their families. In total, around 1,250 people will be fed daily—an important first step to provide aid in this acute emergency.
In the coming weeks and months, the rebuilding process will present enormous challenges for the residents. The destruction is immense, and many families now have to start completely from scratch.
Together, we can help
The people of Korail urgently need support now. Every form of help—whether financial, material, or through raising awareness—contributes to alleviating their hardship and giving hope to those affected.
Please help support the people of Korail through this difficult time.
