17 May 2013 - Christian Aid is releasing £100,000 emergency funds to partner organisations in Bangladesh to help them distribute food and provide emergency assistance to vulnerable communities hit by Cyclone Mahasen. Nearly 1.3 million people have been affected, 128,000 homes destroyed and 14 people are dead after heavy rain and cyclone-strength rains hit low-lying coastal regions of Bangladesh on Thursday evening.

By Sara A. Fajardo

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) as part of its Hurricane Preparedness Month activities for May 2013, hosted housing sector professionals in a day long forum at the Knutsford Court Hotel on Thursday May 16, 2013.

After making landfall in Bangladesh and moving forward to the northeast away from Myanmar, Tropical Cyclone Mahasen weakened and dissipated on 17 May. Relevant storm tracking sites stopped tracking the weather system once it moved over northern Bangladesh early on 17 May.

As of midday today, the Government of Bangladesh had reported six deaths, and a limited number of people in flood affected districts were injured. While assessments are ongoing, in light of the potential damage anticipated over the last five days, reported damage to houses has been limited.

It covers the period from: Thu, 16 May 2013 : 2130 to Thu, 17 May 2013 : 1700

Hazards
1. Cyclone
2. Storm Surge
3. Landslide

Affected Areas: Chittagong, Noakhali, Borguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Pirozpur, Laxmipur, Satkhira

CHF 300,794 has been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) in delivering immediate assistance to some 6,500 beneficiaries. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Après plusieurs mois d’extinction, l’épidémie de choléra aurait fait sa réapparition dans la région de Tillabéry où 210 cas seraient confirmés. Six personnes en seraient décédées.

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is the leading organization for newly arrived refugees in Lebanon. DRC assists 25 percent of the newly arrived refugees but despite the massive effort, more assistance is still needed. Only 40 percent of the refugees are reached – across the efforts from the different NGOs in the country.

Political and Security South-central:

On 6 May, Al Shabab fighters ambushed the Raskambooni police base in Dobley town.
The armed clashes lasted more than half an hour and one Raskambooni soldier died during the attack and three others were seriously injured. Two days later, the militants launched another hit and run attack against the Somali government forces manning a checkpoint at Shaqalaha neighborhood on the exit road to Afmadow west of Kismayo.

No casualties were reported. Tension remains high in Dobley and its surrounding areas.