Attachments
TIMELINE
24 May 2024: Depression forms at the Bay of Bengal.
26 May 2024: Cyclone Remal makes landfall near the Mongla and Khepupara coasts in Bangladesh and West Bengal in India.
26 May 2024: The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) calls an emergency coordination meeting with the Honourable State Minister, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), Honourable Chairman, and directors of the BDRCS, as well as with the IFRC and IFRC’s in-country membership.
27 May 2024: CHF 1 million is allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF).
29 May 2024: The IFRC issues a Federation-wide Emergency Appeal for CHF 12.5 million for 650,000 people to support the BDRCS in scaling-up the response for 12 months.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT
The severe cyclonic storm Remal made landfall near the Mongla and Khepupara coasts in Bangladesh and West Bengal in India at approximately 8:00 PM local time on 26 May 2024. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the highest recorded wind speed was 111 km/h at 1:30 AM on 27 May 2024 (local time), in Khepupara, which lies in the coastal district of Patuakhali. The storm surge, accompanied by extremely heavy rainfall, caused flooding of 5-8 feet in the coastal districts. The eight most impacted districts are Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Barguna, Jhalokathi, and Bhola.
According to the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), Cyclone Remal affected roughly 4.6 million people in 19 districts, and at least 16 people died across seven districts. Approximately 800,000 people were evacuated to 9,424 evacuation shelters across 19 districts.
Over 170,000 houses were damaged, including 40,338 that are completely uninhabitable. About 80,591 hectares of cultivable land were inundated and the flooding of 50,000 fish enclosures, 34,000 ponds, and 4,000 crab farms have severely disrupted food supply chains, exacerbating livelihoods and food insecurity. More than 530,000 farmers have been affected by damage to crops worth BDT 10,595 million (US$ 90.7 million).
Cyclone Remal has severely impacted Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) conditions. Initial data from the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) indicates that 20,260 water points were damaged, including 1,536 which were fully destroyed. A further 134,269 latrines were damaged, with 24,407 completely unusable, across the eight affected districts. Additionally, WASH services at 550 healthcare facilities and 1,175 shelters (including schools) were damaged. The tropical storm, storm surge, and collapse of embankments led to damage, inundation, or contamination of water sources such as ponds, along with increased salinity. As a result, those affected lack access to adequate sanitation and limited potable water for drinking leaving them at increased risk of waterborne diseases.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), a 20-bed hospital in Kuakata and 20 community clinics in the divisions of Barishal and Khulna have reported damage. Some medicines and logistics facilities were also damaged as water entered the medicine store in the hospital. The Upazila Health Complex (UHC) in Patuakhali and a few Union Parishads in Koyra were also destroyed.
Severity of the humanitarian conditions
Extent of humanitarian hardship:
Following the devastation caused by Cyclone Remal on 26 and 27 May, the people worst affected are currently unable to meet their basic needs and require urgent humanitarian assistance. The lack of access to adequate shelter due to damage or destruction has left many people in open spaces, their damaged houses, or taking refuge in the homes of friends and neighbours. A preliminary assessment4 conducted by the Needs Assessment Working Group (NAWG) indicates that the majority of affected households are unable to overcome the disaster’s losses. According to the assessment, 64 per cent of households have increased relief dependency, and 84 per cent of households have lost their income, making recovery by their own efforts impossible and necessitating external assistance.
Additionally, 93 per cent of people’s livelihoods have been disrupted, and 86 per cent of people’s agricultural land, fisheries, and livestock have been damaged. As a result, those affected have experienced a reduction in their incomes, plunging them into a state of financial uncertainty and instability. Currently, 91 per cent of people are unable to prepare cooked meals due to the cyclone’s impact, reducing their daily food intake, which, if prolonged, will lead to malnutrition. Furthermore, 38 per cent of people are experiencing difficulties in managing personal and menstrual hygiene, which increases the risk of various diseases such as urinary tract infections and pelvic inflammatory disease (PVD). Violence against women and children is increasing due to the open cohabitation of socially and economically marginalised communities.
As the cyclone has significantly increased people’s uncertainty, they are adopting negative coping mechanisms, such as selling livestock. Data from the NAWG indicates that 17 per cent of people have resorted to undignified work, and 84 per cent of people have lost their income due to the cyclone, which is severely impacting their everyday lives. In addition, 73 per cent of people reported disruptions in their transport and communications. The cyclone has caused significant upheaval, leaving people unable to restore their daily routines on their own The monsoon season has already started in Bangladesh, and the heavy rainfall is expected to result in additional suffering for those affected, including exposure to disease outbreaks.
Impact on physical and mental well-being:
The affected population has been exposed to circumstances that are highly challenging for their mental health and well-being, increasing the risk of developing mental health conditions. According to the NAWG’s report, 87 per cent of people currently face uncertainty due to the loss of their houses, livelihoods, sanitation facilities, and essential assets, which exposes them to distress and emotional suffering. Additionally, 64 per cent of people suffer from depression or trauma, which increases their vulnerability, while 56 per cent of people suffer from insecurity or fear for their privacy. The report also indicates that 66 per cent of people are living away from their homes, and 47 per cent of family members are separated, which is affecting their psychosocial well-being. Furthermore, 64 per cent of people report increased relief dependency, which has had a significant impact on their psychosocial well-being. Pregnant women face challenges accessing health facilities in some of the affected areas.
Risks and vulnerabilities:
As a significant number of houses were damaged, the affected population are currently living in open spaces. Women, children, lactating mothers, pregnant women, adolescents, the elderly, and persons with disabilities are the most vulnerable groups. Currently, these groups are suffering from severe insecurity. The most affected people may become more vulnerable during the monsoon season, as it may prolong the inundation and flooding of low-lying coastal areas, further exacerbating the situation. According to the NAWG report, child labour has increased by 26 per cent, which may result in school dropouts and 84 per cent of people are facing income loss. Affected families fear that income loss will continue in the coming months, which may lead to engagement in undignified work and an increased risk of trafficking. Due to the severe impact on livelihoods, it is also anticipated that migration and displacement among marginalised families will increase.