How the world has changed and every one of us impacted! The Operation Cleft programme (Cleft Bangladesh) like all international care programmes has been hard hit.This year we proudly celebrate 15 years of serving the Cleft suffering families of Bangladesh, achieving in total more than 14,200 free, life changing Cleft surgeries. The good news is that with your continuing faithful and generous support and our faithful and committed surgeons; in spite of all the obstacles they face, are back doing what they love doing most. Bangladesh continues to experience large Covid-19 infection rates the 15th highest in the world with many daily fatalities. Our surgeons from late August are back operating, bringing smiles to the faces of Cleft suffering children and their deeply appreciative families. After the severe lockdown effective in Bangladesh from early March only a few urgent Cleft surgeries had been undertaken until now, leaving a growing daily backlog for this year ahead. The good news is that we as Cleft Bangladesh (OCA and partner DCKH) were still able to complete a high 1,286 free surgeries for the 2019-2020 year. Free surgeries continue to change lives and bring smiles to faces because of your faithful, generous on-going support. Individual donors (friends of OCA) have over the year maintained a high level of support, Organisations, made up of Trusts, Schools, Businesses and groups (outside of Rotary) increased giving by 85% compared to the previous year, this is deeply appreciated. An increase in the number of contributing Rotary Clubs also occurred, while total giving from Rotary Clubs was down for the year by 22% due to the Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions preventing normal Rotary Club fundraising activities. We do not know what the year ahead holds but we do know that around 14 babies are born every day In Bangladesh with a Cleft lip/palate issue. The backlog numbers will be high with the suffering experienced by the families with untreated Clefts, long and difficult. | 
