OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Bangladesh: Cyclone Sidr
16 November 2007


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

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.

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 Provo Kluit
Tel. +66819129854
Email : provokluit@un.org


Desk Officers:

(NYC) 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:

(NYC) Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel. + 1 917 367 5126

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. + 41 22 917 2653


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