Attachments
A. SITUATION ANALYSIS
Description of the crisis
Since mid-June 2024, a total of 14.6 million people have been affected by a series of flooding events hitting Bangladesh across the northern, northeastern, and southeastern regions, displacing millions and causing widespread damage. The challenges faced by vulnerable communities grappling with natural hazards were further exacerbated in mid-July 2024 by a period of governmental transition, which imposed some additional time constraints on communication, access, and security.
Starting in mid-June 2024, repeated floods have severely affected the northern regions of Bangladesh due to heavy rainfall and water inflows from upstream countries, including Nepal and India. Districts such as Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogura, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Tangail, and Munshiganj have experienced extensive flooding. The Needs Assessment Working Group (NAWG) report of 11 July 2024 estimated that around 5.13 million people had been impacted, comprising 2.61 million women, 1.51 million children and adolescents, and 0.53 million elderly individuals.
At the height of the flooding, 723,331 people were displaced, including 599,767 who took shelter in evacuation centres and 123,564 who sought refuge along roads and embankments. The floods have caused significant hardship across the affected regions. There is an urgent need to restore clean water and sanitation facilities to prevent disease outbreaks, making the distribution of water purification tablets and hygiene kits essential. Immediate food distribution is also critical due to severe shortages, as economic activities have come to a standstill. To address food insecurity, it is essential to restore food availability, provide agricultural support, close the consumption gap, and prevent the collapse of livelihoods. Immediate assistance is also needed for cash support for shelter repairs, and to provide critical materials such as tents, tarpaulins, shelter toolkits, essential household items, clothing, and kitchen sets. Health services have been severely disrupted, necessitating urgent action to maintain access to vital care, including the supply of essential medicines and medical equipment. Additional medical teams and boats are needed to reach remote areas and restore the operations of health facilities. Furthermore, the psychological impact of the disaster on affected populations underscores the need for psychosocial support and mental health services.
Protection services are urgently needed to address gender-based violence (GBV) risks and ensure the safety of vulnerable groups, particularly girls, women, children, people with disabilities, and other gender-diverse groups in shelters. Many shelter centres are not accessible to people with disabilities, and many areas remain inundated. According to the NAWG’s third Situation Overview (31 August 2024), approximately 282,968 people, including women and girls, require GBV response and risk mitigation services out of the 5.83 million affected. The Gender-Based Violence Cluster (GBV Cluster) has reported that overcrowded evacuation centres, damaged homes, insufficient electricity, lack of privacy for women and girls, and limited access to alternative reporting channels have exacerbated GBV risks. Adolescents and young girls, out of school for extended periods, face additional risks of early marriage and trafficking. To address these challenges, there is an urgent need for dignity kits, safe spaces, information on GBV referral pathways, and psychosocial support for women, girls, and children, alongside other life-saving aids.
Since 21 August 2024, southeastern Bangladesh has also faced severe flooding due to heavy monsoon rains and a low-pressure system. By 3 September 2024, 5.82 million people across 11 districts had been affected, with 71 fatalities reported. The floods have caused widespread damage, submerged 311,419 hectares of land, and destroyed 6,542 kilometres of roads and 1,066 bridges and culverts, disrupting key transportation routes. Economic losses are substantial, totalling USD 34 million (CHF 29 million) in livestock and USD 121.6 million (CHF 103.1 million) in fisheries. Additionally, more than 7,000 schools were forced to close, affecting 175,000 primary students, while outbreaks of diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases continue to exacerbate the crisis.
Bangladesh remains highly vulnerable to recurring floods due to its low-lying topography and frequent exposure to tropical cyclones and monsoon rains. Climate change is intensifying these hazards, increasing the risks associated with floods, cyclones, storm surges, droughts, and riverbank erosion. According to the 2024 INFORM Risk Index, Bangladesh is rated very high in several risk categories, with projections suggesting that climate change could displace one in every seven people by 2050. Forecasts for September 2024 indicate that heavy rainfall is likely to continue, with further flooding expected in several areas.