Bangladesh: Cyclone Sidr OCHA Situation Report No. 1

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, UN OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and media sources.

I. Situation in Bangladesh

1. Cyclone Sidr (Category IV) hit Bangladesh on 15 November. The cyclone, originating in the Bay of Bengal, hit offshore islands at 1830 hours and made landfall across the southern coast from Cox's Bazaar to Satkhira districts at 2030 hours local time. Heavy rains were experienced throughout the country, including the capital Dhaka. The first area hit by Cyclone Sidr was Hiron Point and part of the mangrove forest Sundarbans in Bagerhat and Dublar Char Island in Barguna. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, SIDR has a radius of 500 kilometres with the eye of the storm being 74 kilometres and wind speeds of 220-240 kilometres per hour. As the storm moved into central Bangladesh it was downgraded to a Category II tropical storm and is currently in the northeast of the country.

2. Disaster preparedness had an important mitigating effect in this emergency. Along the coastline in 15 districts, 3.2 million people were evacuated to safe places. Of these 620,000 were taken to cyclone shelters and others to the highlands. Maritime ports had been advised to keep hoisted Great Danger Signals in the ports of Mongla, Chittagong and Cox's Bazaar. In addition, fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay were instructed to remain in shelter. Control rooms were opened in affected districts including four in the capital Dhaka. Dhaka airport was closed the night of 15 November and reopened at 1000 hours on 16 November. Relief and rescue items were stockpiled including dry foods, medicines, tents, cooking and lighting materials.

3. Significant and wide-spread storm damage is expected throughout Bangladesh. Joint assessment teams were launched, however information collection on casualty and damage figures are in the early stages and hindered as communication on off-shore islands remains cut off. Initial unconfirmed reports indicate that the death toll is over 1,100 people, with reports of over 15,000 people injured. Three coastal towns (Patuakhali, Barguna and Jhalakathi) with a combined population of 700,000 were inundated by a 5 meter (15 feet) high water surge triggered by the cyclone. Over 20,000 houses damaged in the two worst affected districts and at least 30,000 families affected in two reported districts out of the 15 hardest hit districts. Reports from Cox's Bazaar indicate that quite a number of fishermen remain missing. The needs are expected to be concentrated on food, shelter and emergency health assistance.

II. National Response in Bangladesh

4. Early warning and preparedness systems were in place based on the initial tracking of the storm over the Bay of Bengal for 7 days prior to the impact. A total of 116 medical teams and hundreds of Red Crescent volunteers are working in response to the situation. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) is allocating food and cash to areas of need. The first five GoB and UN joint assessment teams started work as of this morning. On 17 November two more assessment teams will attempt to access the districts cut off due to road and electricity blockage.

5. The Government of Bangladesh, in anticipation of expected significant damage, has held initial discussion with local donors, urging all local actors for possible support.

III. International Response in Bangladesh

6. The UN Country Team, IFRC, and NGOs, including Save the Children, World Vision International, CARE, and OXFAM took extensive emergency response precautions, including mobilizing in-country staff and pre-positioned relief stocks.

7. The Disaster Emergency Response Group is coordinating the United Nations disaster response actions, including the deployment of needs assessment teams. WFP deployed response teams in southwest of the country to strengthen its local management. A WHO surge team of six national consultants and one coordinator are being deployed to the affected areas. A joint UNEP/OCHA Environmental Risk Identification team is assessing the potential secondary risks posed by large infrastructure and industrial facilities containing hazardous materials.

8. The OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) established a task force in Bangkok to report on the situation and coordinate support, as required. ROAP is deploying a two person team to support the UN response. In addition, the UNDAC system is on standby to initiate a team deployment should a need be identified.

9. The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator is ready to release funds from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for immediate life-saving measures, as requested.

10. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and IFRC have deployed four assessment teams and 10 mobile health teams. IFRC allocated CHF 250,000 from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to respond to urgent needs ahead of the results and recommendations of ongoing assessments. IFRC launched a preliminary emergency appeal for US$ 3.5 million in cash, kind, or services to support the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society to assist 235,000 beneficiaries for a period of 9 months.

11. The European Commission has pledged US$ 2.2 million for relief efforts in Bangladesh.

IV. SITUATION IN INDIA

12. In India people are returning to their homes following evacuations in Orissa and West Bengal States. There have to date been no reports of casualties. Weather conditions in Orissa State are described as a 'slight drizzle'. Schools are closed for the next two days as a precaution. In the North Eastern states heavy rainfall continues. The UN Resident Coordinator's Office will continue to monitor the situation in conjunction with the UNDP Disaster Risk Management programme, which maintains a presence in these areas.

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

MAP: Bangladesh: Tropical Cyclone SIDR - Situation Map

For detailed information please contact:

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok)
Mr. Markus Werne
Tel. + 66 81 917 8940
Email: Werne@un.org

Regional Disaster Response Adviser - Asia-Pacific
Ms. Eliane Provó Kluit
Tel. +66819129854
Email : provokluit@un.org

Desk Officers:

(NY) Ms. Kendra Clegg
Tel. +1 646 348 0346
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