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In Brief
This DREF Bulletin is being issued based on the situation described below reflecting the information available at this time. It follows from 0HInformation Bulletin 1 released on 14th June and entries made on 1HDMIS on the 11th, 13th, 16th and 20th of June.
CHF 250,000 was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to respond to the needs in this operation, targeting 10,000 families in 11 districts of Bangladesh.
As the situation is worsening and changing quite rapidly, it is highly likely that an emergency appeal will be launched in the coming days, based on more detailed and verified information.
For further information specifically related to this operation please see the 2Hlast page for contact information
Background and current situation
The early monsoon rain falling since 8th of June has caused havoc in different parts of Bangladesh causing flooding and landslides over the past week. Tornados also struck simultaneously in some districts worsening the situation.
The worst affected areas were the Southern and South- Eastern parts of the country. The torrential rainfall measuring 408mms (1) is the heaviest in the past 25 years according to press reports.
A landslide on 11 June combined with heavy water logging caused serious damage to one third of Chittagong city, affecting 1.5 million people (2) with around 130 people killed and 100 injured according to media reports. The hilly district of Bandarban was also badly affected by flash floods and landslides
10 other districts (Cox's Bazar, Lalmonirhat, Netrakona, Sunamganj, Feni, Habiganj, Mouvlibazar, Bogra, Nilphamari and Kurigram) are also flooded (3).
Continuous rain during the last two days within the districts of Sunamganj (480 mms), Hobiganj (186 mms) and Moulavibazar (205 mms) further worsen the existing flash flood conditions in these areas (4). The flash floods also caused overflow of water in the in-land rivers. Simultaneously Feni, Brahmanbaria, and Lalmonirhat districts experienced tornados, killing several and injuring hundreds, and leaving thousands homeless (5).
More rain is forecasted throughout the next couple of days/weeks, leaving little hope that floodwater will start receding soon. As this is just the beginning of the monsoon season, much worse maybe expected in the coming weeks.
Based on information from BDRCS branches, government and media sources (6) the current estimate is that approximately 71,000 families have been affected, of which approximately 50,000 are homeless (see table below). According to the same sources, many thatched dwellings have been reported as damaged (12,000 in Bogra district alone), 2,000 hectares of crops and sown land are totally destroyed while a further 3,000 hectares (approx.) of paddy and seasonal vegetables are under water. Hundreds of kilometres of roads, and infrastructure (electricity, and gas lines) are damaged. are either damaged or disrupted.
The numbers of affected people, property and infrastructure are expected to rise as the rains continue, although the projections are not clear at this stage.
Inhabitants of many flooded districts have sought refuge on higher land, public places and roadways. Several hundreds are camping on the outskirts of the affected areas, with little protection from the environmental elements. Many are being forced to live under unhygienic conditions resulting in diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, skin and other water born diseases (7) .
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society: Mr. M. Shafiul Alam (Secretary General), email: 5Hbdrcs@bangla.net, phone: +88.02.935.2226
Federation country delegation in Bangladesh: Mr. Selvaratnam Sinnadurai (head of delegation), email: 6Hselvaratnam.sinnadurai@ifrc.org, phone: +88.02.933.7314, fax: +88.02.934.1631
Federation South Asia regional delegation in India: Nina Nobel (acting head of regional delegation); email: 7Hnina.nobel@ifrc.org; phone: +91.11. 2411.1125; fax: +91.11. 2411.1128
Federation Secretariat in Geneva (Asia Pacific department): Hiroto Oyama (regional officer); email: 8Hhiroto.oyama@ifrc.org; Phone: +41.22.730.4273; Fax: +41.22.733.0395 or Gokce Balcik (senior assistant); email: 9Hgokce.balcik@ifrc.org; phone: +44.22.730.4429; fax: +41.22 733.0395
Notes
(1) Sources: Meteorological Dept., Flood
forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the GoB
(2) Source: Emergency Control room of
Chittagong City Corporation
(3) Sources: Assessment made by the
joint assessment team comprising of Federation and BDRCS, Deputy Commissioner
Office of the GoB
(4) Sources: Met dept., FFWC and WFP
BD Bulletin
(5) Sources: Office of District Relief
and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO), Upazilla Nirbahi (Executive) Officer,
Project Implementation Officer (PIO) of the GoB and joint assessment team
comprising of Federation and BDRCS
(6) Verified in Chittagong, Feni, Cox's
Bazar, Bandarban, Brambaria, districts by the Federation/BDRCS assessment
team
(7) Source: Civil Surgeon Officer of
GoB