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


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -