To date, this Emergency Appeal, which seeks CHF 12,500,000, is 22 per cent funded. As per the multi-sectoral detail household assessment done by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), further funding contributions are needed to continue providing recovery assistance in sectors such as shelter, livelihood, health, water, sanitation and hygiene for the affected population.
A. SITUATION ANALYSIS
On 26 May 2024, Cyclone Remal made landfall near the coasts of Bangladesh and India. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the cyclone brought maximum wind speeds of 111 kilometers per hour (km/h). The accompanying storm surge and torrential rainfall caused flooding of 5 to 8 feet in coastal districts of Bangladesh. The Department of Disaster Management (DDM), under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), reported that Cyclone Remal affected approximately 4.6 million people across 19 districts, resulting in 16 fatalities across seven districts. Additionally, around 807,023 people were evacuated to 9,424 shelters across the affected regions.
The Needs Assessment Working Group’s (NAWG) Rapid Assessment Report highlighted widespread damage to housing and livelihoods. Over 173,000 houses were damaged, including 40,338 that were rendered completely uninhabitable. Approximately 80,591 hectares of cultivable land were submerged. Furthermore, the flooding severely impacted 50,000 fish enclosures, 34,000 ponds, and 4,000 crab farms, disrupting food supply chains and exacerbating both food insecurity and livelihood challenges. More than 530,000 farmers were affected, with crop damage valued at BDT 10,595 million (USD 90.7 million).
Cyclone Remal also caused significant damage to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. Initial data from the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) indicated that 20,260 water points were damaged, including 1,536 that were completely destroyed. Additionally, 134,269 latrines were damaged, with 24,407 rendered completely unusable in the eight most affected districts. WASH services at 550 healthcare facilities and 1,175 shelters, including schools, were also impacted. The collapse of embankments further increased salinity, flooding, and contamination of water sources, such as ponds.
In the aftermath of Cyclone Remal, Bangladesh experienced further hardships between June and August 2024, as multiple spells of heavy rainfall and water inflow from upstream countries - Nepal and India, caused extensive 3 flooding and landslides in northern, northeastern, and southeastern regions. In the northeastern districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Netrokona, Kishoreganj, and Habiganj, flooding affected 3.7 million people. According to a NAWG report dated 11 July 2024, an estimated 5.13 million people in the northern region (Jamuna River Basin) were exposed to inundation.
In August 2024, southeastern Bangladesh faced severe flooding due to heavy monsoon rainfall and a low-pressure system. This flooding affected 5.82 million people across 11 districts, including Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur, and Cox’s Bazar. A report by the National Disaster Response Coordination Centre (NDRCC), dated 3 September 2024, recorded 71 fatalities (45 men, seven women, and 19 children) across the affected areas. The flooding caused extensive damage, submerging 311,419 hectares of land and destroying 6,542 kilometers of roads and 1,066 bridges and culverts. According to NAWG, losses included USD 34 million in livestock and USD 121.6 million in fisheries, while 296,852 hectares of agricultural land, 162,823 water points, and 295,689 latrines were damaged.
Six months after Cyclone Remal made landfall, the most vulnerable families in Bangladesh continue to struggle to recover from its impacts. In the worst-affected areas, many people are still living in damaged homes, unable to afford repairs. With the onset of winter between December and January, these families are likely to face additional hardships as they contend with cold weather. The cyclone caused significant losses in household income and livelihoods, compounded by a subsequent economic downturn. Damage to standing crops, essential tools, and equipment, along with saline water intrusion, has severely disrupted agricultural production. In some of the hardest-hit areas, access to hygiene, sanitation, and safe drinking water remains extremely limited.