OCHA Situation Report No. 9
Bangladesh: Cyclone SIDR
25 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 
31 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 24 November, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) official 
reports indicated that more than 6.8 million people were affected by 
Cyclone Sidr, with a death toll of 3,060 people, with a further 1,180 
missing and 34,508 injured. Material damage is severe, with over 366,000 
homes destroyed and a further 845,000 houses were partially damaged. The 
GoB estimates more than 1.7 million acres of crops are damaged. Over 
465,000 livestock are confirmed killed, which represents 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 7,847 partially damaged. 
The twelve most 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 out 
of the approximately 4.7 million people affected in the nine districts 
assessed, 2.6 million people require immediate livelihoods and 
life-saving relief assistance. Food, shelter and cash represent the 
three highest priority areas for immediate assistance. Sanitation and 
drinking water assistance is also urgently needed. There is significant 
damage to livelihoods with a focus required on the fisheries and 
agricultural rehabilitation in particular. 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.

II. National Response in Bangladesh

4. The next DER group meeting will be on 27 November. Cluster 
coordination is underway. For further information regarding clusters, 
cluster leads, meeting schedules, updated information and relief 
response, please refer to the LCG Disaster Emergency Response - Cyclone 
Updates website:

www.lcgbangladesh.org/derweb/cyclone_updates.php.

5. Please find below an overview of information available on 
distributions for the emergency response by relief organisations to 
date. Gap analysis per cluster will be provided next week.

6. Food: The Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM) allocated 
7,640 metric tonnes of rice and 27,000 food packages, to date. The 
Deputy Commissioners are procuring and collecting sufficient amount of 
dry food to respond to the current situation. With the Bangladesh Air 
Force, WFP is distributing 208 tonnes of high-energy biscuits to assist 
an estimated 850,000 cyclone affected people, which is being implemented 
by Save the Children USA. WFP has begun the distribution of 750 metric 
tonnes of rice to the five most affected areas. The WFP Emergency 
Operation monthly food package ration for cyclone affected households 
includes 30 kg of rice, 3 kg of pulses, 2 litres of oil and 0.75 kg of 
high energy biscuits. UNICEF is procuring blended food for children in 
affected districts for a period of three months. UN partners are 
distributing dry food (flattened rice and molasses) to 70,000 affected 
families.

The Bangladesh Red Cross Society (BRAC) and IFRC provided 55 metric 
tonnes of food relief for 64,000 families in 15 of the most affected 
districts. CARE, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), 
World Vision International (WVI), Islamic Relief and Presbyterian World 
Service and Development (PWS&D) are distributing emergency food relief 
packages and oral rehydration supplies.

7. Water and Sanitation: UNICEF is distributing 240,000 packets of water 
purifying powder for 48,000 families. UNICEF moved two mobile water 
treatment plants to affected districts, another two are moving to other 
districts. UNDP allocated 1,000 water purifying filters. IFRC and BRCS 
distributed 42,000 water purification tablets in four districts. USA 
Marine helicopters delivered 750-gallons of bottled water from the USA 
shipment to the Barisal logistic centre. CARE is moving 3 water 
treatment plants to Barisal and Khulna, 15 de-watering equipment to 
Khulna and repaired a common safe drinking water tank (serving 2,000 
households). CRWRC is distributing water purification tablets. BRAC is 
decontaminating primary sources of drinking water in the worst affected 
areas. Muslim Aid is installing tube wells and sanitary latrines.

8. Health: A total of 732 medical teams are working in the affected 
areas. In addition to its Polio surveillance officers, WHO deployed two 
Emergency Health Advisors to the affected areas to assist in monitoring 
disease outbreak in collaboration with GoB authorities. WHO supplied 
emergency life-saving medicine and USD 74,000 to replenish buffer stock. 
AmeriCares will provide 4 metric tonnes of medical supplies to the 
Barisal logistic centre. Muslim Aid erected an inflatable hospital 
Saudkhali village to provide emergency medical services for over 1,000 
patients.

9. Emergency Shelter: The GoB established a special fund of BDT 211 
million taka for housing reconstruction grants throughout 20 affected 
districts. The MoFDM is distributing 14,979 tents and 13,000 bundles of 
corrugated iron sheets, in addition to 18,750 bundles of sheets from WVI 
and a contribution from CRWRC. The UN is distributing thick polyesters 
to 18,000 households.

10. Early Recovery: The expansion of safety nets for relief and the 
early start-up of public work schemes to generate employment and much 
needed household income are key strategies for early recovery. FAO is 
assisting 47,000 households with seeds and other agricultural inputs, as 
well as fishing nets and supplies and intends to support over 100,000 
families in livelihood rehabilitation.

11. The MoFDM is distributing 18,000 blankets, as are Muslim Aid, WVI 
and DanChurchAid's (DCA). The UN is procuring and distributing 60,000 
family kits (containing 14 essential items), tube wells, 100,000 Jerry 
cans, 92 metric tonnes of baby food, 100,000 blankets, 60,000 family 
kits, 60,000 children clothing and 50,000 plastic sheets. IFRC and BRCS 
are distributing family packs of non-food items throughout 15 districts. 
Plan is distributing survival packs containing food, plastic sheets and 
clothing to 50,000 people. In partnership with ActionAid, Austcare is 
providing food, cooking materials, water, clothing and medicine. 
Concern, CARITAS, Oxfam and NETZ are also providing primary emergency 
aid to cyclone affected people.

The Bangladesh military continue to transport relief items to the 
affected areas by plane, helicopters and boats. An estimated 400 tonnes 
of relief goods was distributed by the Bangladesh Air Force to date.

12. NGO rapid assessments identified separated, unaccompanied and 
distressed children. UNICEF in partnership with Save the Children is 
setting up "safe places" for Child protection. The safe spaces will also 
be used as temporary learning centres, in which School-in-a-Box Kits 
will be provided. Handicap International is preparing to treat the 
injured and disabled and distribute basic necessities.

III. International Response in Bangladesh

13. The Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) allocations to the Cyclone 
Sidr emergency response total USD 14.7 million.

14. 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.

15. The total amount of received contributions and confirmed pledges for 
the Cyclone Sidr response in Bangladesh is USD 122,108,986, as recorded 
on the FTS at 1700 hrs on 24 November. Donors are encouraged to verify 
contributions and inform OCHA Financial Tracking System (FTS) of 
corrections/additions/values to this table. For updated information on 
financial contributions, please refer to the OCHA Financial Tracking 
System website: http://reliefweb.int/fts/.

16. 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. Yindee Lertcharoenchok|
Tel. + 66-89-890 6216
Email :Lertcharoenchok @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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