Attachments
This bulletin is being issued for further information following the DMIS input as well as setting the basis for a DREF request to fund continued humanitarian assistance required in the coming days. It reflects the current situation and response, and the immediate intervention that is required for the affected population. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has principally decided to make a DREF request to provide and scale up assistance to the population affected by the disaster.
The situation
Since the 3rd week of the August 2014, the water level of the three river basins (Brahmaputra, Ganges and Meghna) has been increasing. As a result, the north and north-eastern part of Bangladesh is experiencing flooding. The situation is expected to deteriorate as rainfalls in the affected and neighboring areas continue. According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of Bangladesh, among the 83 monitored water level stations, water levels at 19 monitored river stations are flowing above their respective danger marks. Heavy rain in the main river basins of Bangladesh as well as in the upstream catchments of India has triggered this flooding in the adjoining districts of the rivers which are flowing above the danger level. At the same time, Bhola, one of the coastal districts on south central part of the country, is also experiencing tidal flooding.
The collated figures from different government sources at district level estimated around 700,000 people have been marooned under 10 districts (Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Sirajganj, Bogra, Rangpur, Jamalpur, Nilphamari, Bhola and Sherpur) and 816,459 people affected due to the heavy rain induced flooding. The immediate needs of the affected people are food and safe drinking water. Most of them have taken shelter on the embankments (around 20,000 people), high grounds, roads and flood shelter. Reports are being received about the significant damage of livelihoods, crops, shelter, water and sanitation and other infrastructures including roads, embankments and health facilities.
The situation is worsening rapidly in many areas as the number of rivers with water flowing over the danger level has increased significantly over the last week from 13 to 19. New areas are also being engulfed, including Sylhet and Sunamganj in the north-west and districts in the central region, while the situation is also deteriorating in the southern districts of Feni and Chittagong. The districts of Munshiganj, Netrokona and Tangail are also facing similar danger. Heavy rain continues in many parts of the country and FFWC’s water level projection up to 29 August shows that the concerned rivers will continue to be on the rising trend.