OCHA Situation Report No. 10
Bangladesh: Cyclone Sidr
27 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. 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 26 November, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) official 
reports indicated that more than 7 million people were affected by 
Cyclone Sidr, with a death toll of 3,243 people, with a further 880 
missing and 34,708 injured. Material damage is severe, with over 365,772 
houses destroyed and a further 875,710 houses were partially damaged. 
The GoB estimates more than 1.8 million acres of crops are damaged. Over 
523,000 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 1,374 
educational institutions destroyed and another 8,635 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 need to 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. For further 
information regarding Cluster coordination, 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 
10,890 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 (BRCS) and IFRC provided 55 metric 
tonnes of food relief for 64,000 families in 15 of the most affected 
districts. BRAC has over 2,500 staff engaged in relief efforts, 
including in the distribution of 81,570 food packages for over 400,000 
beneficiaries throughout 11 districts. The Association of Medical 
Doctors of Asia (AMDA), CARE, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee 
(CRWRC), Islamic Relief, Presbyterian World Service and Development 
(PWS&D) and World Vision International (WVI) 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 
medical teams are distributing water purification tablets, 
decontaminating primary drinking water sources and conducting awareness 
campaigns on safe water usage. Muslim Aid along with Global Medic set up 
a water purification plant in Saudkhali, as well as providing over 
50,000 litres of clean drinking water, distributing over 2.8 million 
water purification tablets and starting to install 19 portable water 
purification systems in isolated communities.

8. Health: A total of 732 medical teams are working in the affected 
areas, these include teams from GoB, WHO, BRCS, IFRC, USA Army, CARE, 
Health Care services, BRAC, Muslim Aid and Global Medic. 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 emergency funds to replenish buffer stock. 
AmeriCares will provide 4 metric tonnes of medical supplies to the 
Barisal logistical centre. Muslim Aid and Global Medic deployed an 
inflatable field hospital in Saudkhali that treats an average of over 
900 patients per day and provided medicine for 30,000 patients.

9. Emergency Shelter: The GoB established a special fund of BDT 273 
million taka for housing reconstruction grants for families affected by 
Cyclone Sidr. The MoFDM is distributing 14,979 tents and 13,000 bundles 
of corrugated iron sheets, in addition to contributions from WVI and 
CRWRC. ShelterBox Trust is distributing 624 shelter boxes as temporary 
shelter for those who lost their homes. Habitat for Humanity indicated 
its intention to assist up to 3,000 families through rebuilding and 
repairing homes, subject to funding.

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. Logistics: 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. A coordination sub cell was established in Barisal. 
Telecommunications San Frontier (TSF) mission with UNICEF and UN OCHA is 
supporting the United Nations for communications and Information 
Technology.

12. Relief organisations, including the GoB - MoFDM, United Nations, 
IFRC - BRCS, ActionAid, Austcare, CARITAS, Concern, DanChurchAid's 
(DCA), NETZ, Oxfam and Plan are distributing emergency aid and family 
packs of non-food items to families affected by Cyclone Sidr.

13. 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

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

15. IFRC launched an Emergency Appeal for USD 22.2 million to support 
the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BRCS) assist 1,215,000 
beneficiaries over a period of two years.

16. 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 26 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/.

17. 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

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=0494855806032A06492573A0000162CA&file=Full_Report.pdf


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