OCHA Situation Report No. 7
Bangladesh: Cyclone SIDR
23 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 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.  Cyclone Sidr continued to travel in a
North-NorthEast Direction, affecting parts of Central Bangladesh, where
it was subsequently downgraded into a Category-3 cyclone. Approximately
30 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 22 November, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) official
reports indicated that more than 6 million people were affected by
Cyclone Sidr, with a death toll of 2,997 people, with a further 1,724
missing and 34,508 injured. This number is expected to increase as
information is verified. Material damage is severe, with over 363,346
homes destroyed and a further 815,628 houses were partially damaged. The
GoB estimates more than 1.6 million acres of crops are damaged and over
461,750 livestock are confirmed killed. Livestock losses represent 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 1,355 educational institutions destroyed and another 6,480
partially damaged. The worst 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
approximately 4.7 million people were affected by the cyclone in these
districts and a further 2.6 million people require immediate livelihoods
and life-saving relief assistance. Food, shelter and cash represent the
three highest priority areas for assistance. Sanitation and drinking
water assistance is also urgently needed.

4. The restoration of communications and electricity supplies are high
priorities, while communication has been restored in most areas, it is
not the case for electricity, which continues to be a major concern.
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.

5. There is significant damage to livelihoods with a focus required on
the fisheries and agricultural sectors in particular. The expansion of
safety nets for relief and the early startup of public work schemes to
generate employment and much needed household income, are key strategies
for early recovery. Early recovery, longer term recovery, and
rehabilitation activities should emphasize disaster risk reduction.

II. National Response in Bangladesh

6. To date, the Chief Government Adviser has allocated 138 million taka
for relief and house construction in 11 districts. The Deputy
Commissioners are procuring and collecting sufficient amount of dry food
to respond to the current situation. The Ministry of Food and Disaster
Management (MoFDM) has allocated 7,070 metric tonnes of rice, 7,500
tents, 18,000 blankets and 30 million taka as gratuitous relief grants,
to date. A special fund was established allocating 350 million taka for
housing construction grants. 13,000 bundles of corrugated iron sheets
are ready for immediate distribution. 732 medical teams are working in
the affected areas. The military continues to bring relief items to the
affected people by planes, boats and helicopters as more roads are
opened.

7. The Government of Bangladesh's early warning and preparedness systems
were activated prior to the cyclone making landfall, which greatly
reduced the humanitarian impact of this disaster. Preparedness measures
included the evacuation of approximately 3.2 million people. Alarms were
raised and relief and rescue items were stockpiled.

8. On 22 November, the Disaster and Emergency Response (DER) meeting was
chaired by the Secretary of the MoFDM and widely attended by UN
Agencies, IFRC, NGOs, donor representatives and media. The DER discussed
the Needs Assessments results and the establishment of the following six
clusters (and leads) was announced: Food (WFP), Logistics (WFP), Water
and Sanitation (UNICEF), Emergency Shelter (IFRC), Health (WHO) and
Early Recovery (UNDP). GoB focal points for each cluster to be
appointed. Relief organisations are encouraged to participate in the
clusters planning and implementation.

III. International Response in Bangladesh

9. The United Nations, IFRC, and NGOs, including Save the Children,
World Vision International, CARE, Caritas, OXFAM, Islamic Relief, ACT,
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Muslim Aid, CONCERN,
Plan and ActionAid continue to provide support to the Government of
Bangladesh through extensive emergency response mechanisms throughout
southern Bangladesh.

10. In coordination with the Bangladesh Air Force, the United Nations is
distributing 208 tonnes of high-energy biscuits to assist an estimated
850,000 cyclone affected people. 240,000 packets of water purifying
powder are reaching 48,000 families. Shelter materials (thick
polyesters) are being distributed to 18,000 households. Partners are
distributing dry food (flattened rice and molasses) to 70,000 affected
families. Medical officers are available to assist GoB response. The UN
began procurement and distribution of 60,000 family kits, tube wells,
100,000 Jerry cans, USD 1.5 million for medicine, 92 metric tonnes of
baby food, 100,000 blankets, 60,000 family kits, 60,000 children
clothing, 50,000 plastic sheets. USD 50,000 was made available for water
and supplies and transportation.

11. The total Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) allocations to the
Cyclone Sidr emergency response is USD 14.7 million. The United Nations
Emergency Relief Coordinator released a second round of CERF allocations
to the amount of USD 5.94 million for activities in Heath,
Telecommunications, Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Items. This is in
addition to the initial CERF allocation of USD 8.75 million for projects
in the Agriculture, Child Protection, Food, Nutrition and Water and
Sanitation sectors.

12. On 16 November, IFRC launched a preliminary emergency appeal for USD
3.5 million to support the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society to assist
235,000 beneficiaries for a period of nine months. The China Red Cross
pledged USD 50,000 in assistance for the Red Cross Society of
Bangladesh.

13. The World Bank pledged up to USD 250 million for food imports,
medical supplies and cash grants, as well as for infrastructure
rehabilitation and flood mitigation.

14. The following countries have pledged assistance to the relief
effort, to date: Australia (USD 2,752,293); Belgium (USD 2 million);
Canada (USD 3,400,000); China (USD 1 million); Czech Republic (USD
80,645); Denmark (USD 965,764); Estonia (USD 46,045); France (USD
720,461); Germany (USD 1,296,829); India (USD 1 million); Ireland (USD
720,461); Italy (USD 1,534,055) Japan (USD 4,043,860); Kuwait (USD 10
million); Netherlands (USD 1,440,922); Spain (USD 1,080,692); Sweden
(USD 2,668,760); United Kingdom (USD 5,165,289); United States of
America (USD 3,640,175). The USA also contributed a five-person disaster
assessment team to assist local authorities with relief and recovery
efforts. Pakistan made an in-kind contribution of four C-130 plane loads
and one ship of relief goods.

15. The European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) has pledged
USD 9.5 million to the Cyclone Sidr emergency response.  The OPEC Fund
for International Development committed USD 500,000 to the IFRC to
provide essential relief supplies and support the emergency operation.

16. Caritas Spain contributed USD 288,184 for emergency aid to the
affected disaster population.

17. For updated information on financial contributions, please refer to
the OCHA Financial Tracking System website: http://reliefweb.int/fts/.
Donors are encouraged to verify contributions and inform FTS of
corrections/additions/values to this table.

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


Desk Officers:

(NYC) 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

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

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


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