Bangladesh: Cyclone SIDR OCHA Situation Report No. 8

This situation report is based on information received from the Bangladesh Disaster Management Information Centre, the UN Resident Coordinator's Office Bangladesh, the Disaster Emergency Response Group (DER), UN Agencies and OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP).

I. Situation in Bangladesh

1. Cyclone Sidr, Category IV, hit Bangladesh on the evening of 15 November. The cyclone struck offshore islands at 1830 hours and made landfall across the southern coast from Cox's Bazaar in the east toward the Satkhira districts in the west at 2030 hours local time, with wind speeds of up to 250 km/ph. Cyclone Sidr continued to travel in a North-NorthEast Direction, affecting parts of Central Bangladesh, where it was subsequently downgraded into a Category-3 cyclone. Approximately 30 of Bangladesh's 64 districts were affected by the storm mainly within the administrative divisions of Barisal and Khulna. The storm caused extensive damage to the southern districts as it moved north across central Bangladesh.

2. As of 23 November, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) official reports indicated that more than 6.7 million people were affected by Cyclone Sidr, with a death toll of 3,033 people, with a further 1,828 missing and 34,511 injured. Material damage is severe, with over 363,346 homes destroyed and a further 815,628 houses were partially damaged. The GoB estimates more than 1.6 million acres of crops are damaged. Over 462,815 livestock are confirmed killed, which represents loss of critical household assets, with an associated loss to wealth and income, as well as a loss in milk production for own consumption. Extensive damage to roads and public buildings was also reported, including 1,355 educational institutions destroyed and another 7,847 partially damaged. The twelve most affected areas include Bagerhat, Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Gopalgonj, Jhalkhati, Khulna, Mandaripur, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Satkhira and Shariatpur districts.

3. Results from the initial rapid UN Emergency Assessment of the needs and damages in nine of the worst affected districts indicated that out of the approximately 4.7 million people affected in the nine districts assessed, 2.6 million people require immediate livelihoods and life-saving relief assistance. Food, shelter and cash represent the three highest priority areas for immediate assistance. Sanitation and drinking water assistance is also urgently needed. There is significant damage to livelihoods with a focus required on the fisheries and agricultural rehabilitation in particular. Land and water transportation services require support, which is critical for an efficient, effective and timely relief response, as well as enabling the resumption of commerce and economic activities.

II. National Response in Bangladesh

4. The next DER group meeting will be on 27 November. Cluster coordination is underway. For further information regarding clusters, cluster leads, meeting schedules, updated information and relief response, please refer to the LCG Disaster Emergency Response - Cyclone Updates website: www.lcgbangladesh.org/derweb/cyclone_updates.php.

5. Please find below an overview of information available on distributions for the emergency response by relief organisations to date. Gap analysis per cluster will be provided next week.

6. Food: The Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM) allocated 7,640 metric tonnes of rice and 27,000 food packages, to date. The Deputy Commissioners are procuring and collecting sufficient amount of dry food to respond to the current situation. With the Bangladesh Air Force, WFP is distributing 208 tonnes of high-energy biscuits to assist an estimated 850,000 cyclone affected people, which is being implemented by Save the Children USA. WFP has begun the distribution of 750 metric tonnes of rice to the five most affected areas. The WFP Emergency Operation monthly food package ration for cyclone affected households includes 30 kg of rice, 3 kg of pulses, 2 litres of oil and 0.75 kg of high energy biscuits. UNICEF is procuring blended food for children in affected districts for a period of three months. UN partners are distributing dry food (flattened rice and molasses) to 70,000 affected families.

The Bangladesh Red Cross Society (BRAC) and IFRC provided 55 metric tonnes of food relief for 64,000 families in 15 of the most affected districts. CARE is procuring and distributing food packages for an estimated 13,000 families. Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) is also distributing food packages for 10,000 families. World Vision International (WVI) is distributing 332 metric tonnes of food for 14,500 families. Islamic Relief distributed 1.1 metric tonnes of emergency food packages for 200 households. Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) is providing emergency food relief and oral rehydration supplies.

7. Water and Sanitation: UNICEF is distributing 240,000 packets of water purifying powder for 48,000 families. UNICEF moved two mobile water treatment plants to affected districts, another two are moving to other districts. UNDP has allocated 1,000 pieces of water purifying filters. IFRC and BRCS distributed 42,000 water purification tablets for affected people in four districts. The USA Marine helicopters delivered 750-gallons of bottled water from the USA shipment to the Barisal logistic centre. CARE is moving 3 water treatment plants to Barisal and Khulna, 15 de-watering equipment to Khulna and has repaired a common safe drinking water tank (serving 2,000 households). CRWRC is distributing oral rehydration salts and water purification tablets. BRAC is decontaminating primary sources of drinking water in the worst affected areas. Muslim Aid is installing tube wells and sanitary latrines.

8. Health: A total of 732 medical teams are working in the affected areas. In addition to its Polio surveillance officers, WHO deployed two Emergency Health Advisors to the affected areas to assist in monitoring disease outbreak in collaboration with GoB authorities. WHO supplied emergency life-saving medicine and USD 74,000 to replenish buffer stock. AmeriCares will provide 4 metric tonnes of medical supplies to the Barisal logistic centre. Muslim Aid erected an inflatable hospital Saudkhali village to provide emergency medical services for over 1,000 patients.

9. Emergency Shelter: The GoB established a special fund of BDT 211 million taka for housing reconstruction grants throughout 20 affected districts. The MoFDM is distributing 14,979 tents and 13,000 bundles of corrugated iron sheets, in addition to 18,750 bundles of sheets from WVI and a contribution from CRWRC. The UN is distributing thick polyesters to 18,000 households whose houses were destroyed by the storms.

10. Early Recovery: The expansion of safety nets for relief and the early start-up of public work schemes to generate employment and much needed household income are key strategies for early recovery. FAO is assisting 47,000 households with seeds and other agricultural inputs, as well as fishing nets and supplies and intends to support over 100,000 families in livelihood rehabilitation.

11. Non-Food Items: The MoFDM is distributing 18,000 blankets. The UN is procuring and distributing 60,000 family kits (containing 14 essential items), tube wells, 100,000 Jerry cans, 92 metric tonnes of baby food, 100,000 blankets, 60,000 family kits, 60,000 children clothing and 50,000 plastic sheets. IFRC and BRCS are distributing family packs of non-food items throughout 15 districts. CARE is distributing food and non-food items to 50,000 families. WVI is also providing clothing and blankets (20,000 pieces) for 5,500 households and DanChurchAid's (DCA) blankets, food, soap and tube wells. Muslim Aid is also distributing clothing and blankets. Plan is distributing survival packs containing food, plastic sheets and clothing to 50,000 people. In partnership with ActionAid, Austcare is providing food, cooking materials, water, clothing and medicine.

The Bangladesh military continue to transport relief items to the affected areas by plane, helicopters and boats. An estimated 300 tonnes of relief goods was distributed by the Bangladesh Air Force to date.

12. Protection: NGO rapid assessments identified separated, unaccompanied and distressed children. UNICEF in partnership with Save the Children is setting up "safe places" for Child protection. The safe spaces will also be used as temporary learning centres, in which School-in-a-Box Kits will be provided. Handicap International is preparing to treat the injured and disabled and distribute basic necessities.

III. International Response in Bangladesh

13. The Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) allocations to the Cyclone Sidr emergency response total USD 14.7 million.

14. On 16 November, IFRC launched a preliminary emergency appeal for USD 3.5 million to support the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society to assist 235,000 beneficiaries for a period of nine months.

15. The total amount of received contributions and confirmed pledges for the Cyclone Sidr response in Bangladesh is USD 122,108,986, as recorded on the FTS at 2000 hrs on 23 November. Donors are encouraged to verify contributions and inform OCHA Financial Tracking System (FTS) of corrections/additions/values to this table. For updated information on financial contributions, please refer to the OCHA Financial Tracking System website: https://reliefweb.int/fts/.

16. This situation report, together with further information regarding on-going emergencies, is also available on the Reliefweb: http://www.reliefweb.int.

MAP: Bangladesh: Tropical Cyclone SIDR - Situation Map

For detailed information please contact:

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok)
Ms. Eliane Provó Kluit
Tel. +66819129854
Email : provokluit@un.org

Desk Officers:

(NY)Ms. Kendra Clegg
Tel. +1 646 416 1140
Email: clegg@un.org

(GVA)Mr. Jean Verheyden
Tel: + 41 79 509 8116
Email: verheyden@un.org

Press contact

(NY)Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel. + 1 917 367 5126

(GVA)Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. + 41 22 917 2653