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Bangladesh

Bangladesh: Cyclone SIDR OCHA Situation Report No. 10

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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. Approximately 31 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 26 November, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) official reports indicated that more than 7 million people were affected by Cyclone Sidr, with a death toll of 3,243 people, with a further 880 missing and 34,708 injured. Material damage is severe, with over 365,772 houses destroyed and a further 875,710 houses were partially damaged. The GoB estimates more than 1.8 million acres of crops are damaged. Over 523,000 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 1,374 educational institutions destroyed and another 8,635 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 need to 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. For further information regarding Cluster coordination, 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 10,890 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 (BRCS) and IFRC provided 55 metric tonnes of food relief for 64,000 families in 15 of the most affected districts. BRAC has over 2,500 staff engaged in relief efforts, including in the distribution of 81,570 food packages for over 400,000 beneficiaries throughout 11 districts. The Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA), CARE, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), Islamic Relief, Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) and World Vision International (WVI) are distributing emergency food relief packages 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 allocated 1,000 water purifying filters. IFRC and BRCS distributed 42,000 water purification tablets in four districts. 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 repaired a common safe drinking water tank (serving 2,000 households). CRWRC is distributing water purification tablets. BRAC medical teams are distributing water purification tablets, decontaminating primary drinking water sources and conducting awareness campaigns on safe water usage. Muslim Aid along with Global Medic set up a water purification plant in Saudkhali, as well as providing over 50,000 litres of clean drinking water, distributing over 2.8 million water purification tablets and starting to install 19 portable water purification systems in isolated communities.

8. Health: A total of 732 medical teams are working in the affected areas, these include teams from GoB, WHO, BRCS, IFRC, USA Army, CARE, Health Care services, BRAC, Muslim Aid and Global Medic. 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 emergency funds to replenish buffer stock. AmeriCares will provide 4 metric tonnes of medical supplies to the Barisal logistical centre. Muslim Aid and Global Medic deployed an inflatable field hospital in Saudkhali that treats an average of over 900 patients per day and provided medicine for 30,000 patients.

9. Emergency Shelter: The GoB established a special fund of BDT 273 million taka for housing reconstruction grants for families affected by Cyclone Sidr. The MoFDM is distributing 14,979 tents and 13,000 bundles of corrugated iron sheets, in addition to contributions from WVI and CRWRC. ShelterBox Trust is distributing 624 shelter boxes as temporary shelter for those who lost their homes. Habitat for Humanity indicated its intention to assist up to 3,000 families through rebuilding and repairing homes, subject to funding.

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. Logistics: The Bangladesh military continue to transport relief items to the affected areas by plane, helicopters and boats. An estimated 400 tonnes of relief goods was distributed by the Bangladesh Air Force to date. A coordination sub cell was established in Barisal. Telecommunications San Frontier (TSF) mission with UNICEF and UN OCHA is supporting the United Nations for communications and Information Technology.

12. Relief organisations, including the GoB - MoFDM, United Nations, IFRC - BRCS, ActionAid, Austcare, CARITAS, Concern, DanChurchAid's (DCA), NETZ, Oxfam and Plan are distributing emergency aid and family packs of non-food items to families affected by Cyclone Sidr.

13. 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

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

15. IFRC launched an Emergency Appeal for USD 22.2 million to support the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BRCS) assist 1,215,000 beneficiaries over a period of two years.

16. 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 1700 hrs on 26 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/.

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

For detailed information please contact:

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok)
Ms. Yindee Lertcharoenchok|
Tel. + 66-89-890 6216
Email :Lertcharoenchok @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

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