DHA-GENEVA 93/0013
BANGLADESH - THUNDERSTORMS
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO.1
12 JANUARY 1993

SITUATION

1. ON 7 AND 8 JANUARY 1993, THUNDERSTORMS ACCOMPANIED BY HAILSTORM AND RAIN HIT SIX LOCATIONS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF BANGLADESH (BOGRA, NOAGAON, SUNAMGANJ, SYLHET, TANGAIL AND JAMALPUR). THE BANGLADESH METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT CONSIDERS THIS EVENT, KNOWN AS 'TRANSLATORY WIND', AS AN ABNORMAL PHENOMENON FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, ALTHOUGH A SIMILAR EVENT WAS EXPERIENCED IN 1992.

2. THE OFFICIAL DAMAGE REPORT PROVIDED FROM THE MINISTRY OF RELIEF TO THE UNDP/DHA RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IS AS FOLLOWS:

- 31 PERSONS DEAD
- APPROX. 10,000 HOUSES DAMAGED
- 24 EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS DAMAGED
- APPROX. 750,000 PERSONS AFFECTED.

3. RELIEF HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL AUTHORITIES AND THE SITUATION IS WELL UNDER CONTROL. NO APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS-GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917.12.34
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917.20.10
DUTY OFFICER: O. ALMGREN
DESK OFFICER: S. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917.21.44
PRESS TO CONTACT DHA-GENEVA SPOKESPERSON: M. KHATIB,
DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917.28.56

TELEX:414242 DRO CH
FAX: +41-22-917.00.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET ID UNX 008