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From Manuel Aranda da Silva, Chief, Technical Support Service. Available on the Internet on the WFP Home Page at http://www.wfp.org/ or by electronic mail from Deborah.Hicks@wfp.org (fax 39 6 6513 2837). For information on resources, donors are requested to contact Aleesa.Blum@wfp.org or Marius.deGaayFortman@wfp.org at WFP Rome, telephone 39 6 6513 2004 or 6 6513 2250. This issue of the WFP Emergency Report prepared by Peter Erhardy and Deborah Hicks.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS
(Details below in Part II)
A. BANGLADESH
1. WFP response to flood situation - information as of 8 September
a) Government of Bangladesh appeals for relief assistance for victims of worst floods since 1988; floods affect two-thirds of country.
b) UN Flash Appeal issued on 4 September for USD 223 million. Appeal covers emergency relief needs of food, medicine and shelter and initial rehabilitation requirements. Under the appeal, WFP requests 242,000 tons of wheat, blended food, pulses and high energy biscuits (for 14 million people), for a total value USD 38 million.
c) WFP prepares five-month emergency operation, which will supersede the WFP component of the UN Flash Appeal, to assist a revised total of 20 million people.
d) OCHA Situation Reports and the Inter-agency Flash Appeal available on ReliefWeb (http://www.reliefweb.int) with details of operations proposed by UN agencies, IFRC and non-governmental organizations.
PART II - DETAILS
A. BANGLADESH
1. WFP response to flood situation - information as of 8 September
1.1 Since July 1998, Bangladesh has been confronted with the worst flood situation since 1988, with floods covering an estimated two-thirds of the country. In the last few weeks continuous rainfall has led to increased water levels in the three major river basins of the Brahamaputra, Meghna and Ganges. It is not known whether the water levels will recede to normal even by the end of September. On 26 August, the Government of Bangladesh formally appealed for relief assistance to the flood victims and for post-flood rehabilitation, including 1.3 million tons of food grains (valued at USD 242.5 million).
1.2 On 4 September, a UN Flash Appeal in support of the Government of Bangladesh for emergency relief and initial rehabilitation for the victims of the floods was launched by OCHA on behalf of the agencies participating in the implementation: UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, WFP and FAO. The appeal, which is for USD 223 million, focuses on the provision of emergency relief over the next three to four months to the most vulnerable, such as children, women, the homeless and the landless. The appeal covers food, medicine and shelter for emergency relief and for initial rehabilitation requirements of agriculture inputs, shelter materials, water supply repairs and learning/teaching materials. Under the appeal WFP is requesting 242,000 tons of wheat, blended food, pulses and high energy biscuits for a total value of USD 38 million, to assist 14 million people.
1.3 WFP is preparing a five-month emergency operation which will supersede the WFP component of the UN Flash Appeal. The total number to be assisted with food aid has been revised to 20 million people (current estimate).
1.4 The unusually prolonged floods of 1998 have caused extensive damage. As of 26 August, it was estimated that over 24 million people have been affected in 45 districts (out of a total of 64 districts in the country), and the death toll was 360. Some 353,000 houses have been destroyed and 1.2 million damaged. By 4 September, according to news reports the death toll had risen to 580 and the situation was described as especially grim in at least eight districts, including Narayanganj, Gopalganj, Narsinghdi, Brahmanbaria, Bogra, Laxmipur and Chapainawabganj. Bangladesh relief officials of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief report that the floods have damaged 800,000 hectares of crops. Some 9,000 km of roads have been damaged and over 6,500 bridges and culverts have been washed away. WHO has reported the widespread outbreak of water-borne diseases.
1.5 The latest OCHA Situation Report and the Inter-agency Flash Appeal are available on ReliefWeb http://www.reliefweb.int. The OCHA Situation Report No 7 dated 1 September 1998 includes details of operations proposed by all UN agencies involved, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and non-governmental organizations. Additional information is available from IFRC reports.