U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
BACKGROUND AND KEY DEVELOPMENTS
On May 25, Cyclone Aila struck the coastal areas of Bangladesh with wind speeds of up to 56 miles per hour. Heavy rains, combined with high tides, resulted in storm surges which breached embankments, flooded villages, and affected nearly 5 million individuals. According to the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), the cyclone killed 190 people, injured more than 7,000, and damaged or destroyed more than 500,000 houses. Cyclone Aila also caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including more than 1,400 km of embankments, an estimated 8,800 km of roads, and approximately 350,000 acres of crop land. The cyclone caused damage in 11 districts in southern Bangladesh, including the most-affected districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Pirojpur and Patuakhali.
On May 28, U.S. Ambassador James F. Moriarty declared a disaster due to the damage from Cyclone Aila. In response, USAID/OFDA immediately provided $100,000 through USAID/Bangladesh to CARE and World Vision for distribution of emergency relief supplies to affected populations. CARE and World Vision provided more than 22,000 families with emergency food and non-food relief supplies such as soap, candles, plastic sheeting, utensils, matches, and buckets. In addition to the emergency relief supplies, pre-positioned USAID/OFDA water purification units, zodiac boats, and water ambulances were quickly mobilized through USAID partners CARE, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Save the Children, and World Vision. USAID/Bangladesh reprogrammed existing program funds to provide emergency survival packs that included plastic sheeting, utensils, candles, rope, soap, matches, and mosquito netting for distribution to cyclone-affected populations.
Following the initial response, USAID/OFDA deployed a regional advisor and a shelter specialist from June 9 to 16 to assess the impact of the cyclone and determine if additional emergency assistance was needed. Based on the assessment and resulting recommendations, USAID/OFDA is providing additional funds for emergency relief supplies, shelter materials and provision of transitional shelter, livelihood assistance through cash-for-work activities, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions through CARE, CRS and World Vision.
| NUMBERS AT A GLANCE* | SOURCE |
| Total Affected Population | 190 dead, 7,103 injured, 4.8 million affected | GOB – June 11, 2009 |
| Houses Damaged or Destroyed | More than 500,000 | GOB – July 19, 2009 |
*Figures based on preliminary estimates.
FY 2009 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING PROVIDED TO DATE
USAID/OFDA Assistance to Bangladesh: $3,620,188
Total USAID Humanitarian Assistance: $3,620,188
MAP - USG Humanitarian Assistance to Bangladesh (as of 23 Jul 2009)
