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May 31, 2017: Severe Cyclonic Storm Mora made landfall in Bangladesh on May 30, 2017. The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)-Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) estimates that 10,074,699 people were living in regions that were exposed to wind speeds of 120 km/h or more, and that some districts near Cox’s Bazaar and Chittagong were hit with gusts that topped 130 km/h.
According to the National Health Crisis Management Centre and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), reports the casualties to have at 6 lives lost, 136 injured, and Government report figured around 200,000 people displaced. The Indian navy ship Sumitra rescued 27 people who were found adrift at sea over 100 miles away from Chittagong. Government sources have estimated that approximately 52,000 houses were damaged or destroyed, leaving 260,000 people in possible need of shelter. Cox’s Bazaar district was particularly heavily hit, with approximately 17,000 residences damaged. Housing for undocumented Myanmar nationals near Cox’s bazaar was severely damaged. Rohingya refugees are currently without reliable shelter, food, and fuel, and may also lack dry space to cook. Electricity has been disrupted in Bandarban district and many upazillas will take 2-3 more days to repair the damage to the power grid. Roads and communication networks in remote parts of Bandarban district have been interrupted and will take additional days to recover.
The Government of Bangladesh has already allocated 15,000,000 BDT (USD 8.53 million) and 1,400 MT of rice to cyclone-affected districts. The Bangladesh navy deployed two ships to remote islands to distribute aid. The World Food Programme has 122 metric tons of biscuits available in the region, and is distributing these in makeshift camps and settlements. The International Organization for Migration is distributing plastic sheets, rope and other items to people with severe shelter damage in Balukhali. UNHCR is distributing plastic sheeting and other items in camps housing refugees and other displaced persons. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) has mobilized USD $107,000 from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to provide emergency food, drinking water, storage, and shelter materials.
A UN-GoB-NGO Working Group of the UN’s Humanitarian Coordination Team launched a 72-hour assessment reviewing conditions across all affected districts. This assessment report will be shared once it is completed. It will then be determined if additional financial resources are required.
For more information, contact: Kazi Shahidur Rahman, Humanitarian Affairs Specialist, shahidur.rahman@one.un.org