OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Bangladesh: Cyclone Sidr
19 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
(ROAP) and media sources.

I. Situation in Bangladesh

1. Cyclone Sidr (Category IV) hit Bangladesh on the evening of 15
November. The cyclone, originating from a depression over the Bay of
Bengal on 11 November, hit offshore islands at 1830 hours and made
landfall across the southern coast from Cox's Bazaar toward the 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, Cyclone Sidr had a radius of
500 kilometres with the eye of the storm 74 kilometres wide and wind
speeds reaching between 220-240 kilometres per hour. The storm caused
extensive damage, in particular in the south-western districts, as it
moved north into central Bangladesh and was downgraded to a Category II
tropical storm. The weather is currently calm.

2. Official reports indicate that the initial death toll is 2,027
people, with 1,451 injured and 454 missing. These figures are expected
to increase significantly as the need assessments are completed and will
be reported on 19 November. Reports indicate that over 27 million people
from 25 districts were affected by the severe cyclonic storms. The 12
hardest hit districts were Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur,
Barisal, Jhalkhati, Bhola, Mandaripur, Gopalgonj, Shariatpur, Khulna and
Satkhira. Many structures have been damaged or destroyed, damage to
crops is extensive and roads are damaged or blocked by debris. The
cyclone caused severe reduction in power production, resulting in a near
countrywide blackout for over 36 hours, further disruptions to
telecommunications and water supply.

3. Preliminary assessments indicate that emergency needs should be
concentrated on non-food items, food aid, nutrition, water and
sanitation, shelter and disease surveillance. The longer term
perspective calls for rehabilitation of livelihood, infrastructure,
health and educational services and increased shelter capacity.

II. National Response in Bangladesh

4. To date, the Chief Adviser has allocated 100 million taka for relief
and house construction in eleven 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 4,000 metric tonnes of rice, 5,000 tents, 17,000 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. The Bangladesh Armed Forces Division deployed several
aircrafts and a number of helicopters. Six Bangladesh Navy ships are
conducting rescue, evacuation, relief and reconnaissance operations in
the worst storm affected areas. Several central control rooms of
different GoB agencies at national, district and upazila levels have
been active round the clock since the first cyclone warning was issued.
732 medical teams are working in the affected areas.

5. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) early warning and preparedness
systems were activated prior to the cyclone hitting landfall, which had
a significant mitigating effect in this emergency. Disaster preparedness
measures included the evacuation of approximately 3.2 million people
from along the coastline of 15 districts to safe places. Alarms were
raised and relief and rescue items were stockpiled.

6. The Government of Bangladesh called an immediate meeting of the
Disaster and Emergency Response group (DER) on 15 November, consisting
of representatives from the GoB, United Nations, Donors, national and
international NGOs. The GoB emphasized that the humanitarian community
should coordinate closely with central and local Bangladesh authorities.
A follow up meeting was held on 18 November, where many donors pledged
support to the GoB. The next DER meeting will be held on 22 November.

III. International Response in Bangladesh

7. The UN Country Team, IFRC, and NGOs, including Save the Children,
World Vision International, CARE, Caritas, OXFAM, Islamic Relief, ACT,
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Muslim Aid, and Plan,
provided support to the Government of Bangladesh through extensive
emergency response precautions, including mobilizing in-country staff
and pre-positioned relief stocks across southern Bangladesh.

8. Under the coordination of the DER, a United Nations team of 12
experts left Dhaka to assist with assessment in affected areas. 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) will also be distributed to 18,000 households whose
houses were destroyed by the storms. Partners will start distribution of
dry food (flattened rice and molasses) to 70,000 affected families from
18 November. Medical officers are available to assist the GoB response,
including four to assist in coordinating the central response. USD
50,000 was made available for water and supplies and transportation.
More relief will be made available following initial determination of
needs.

9. The United Nations Disaster Management Team (UN DMT) met on 16
November to coordinate response and assessment and take early stock of
the situation. A mission from UN OCHA Regional Office arrived in Dhaka
on 17 November to assist with the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF)
process and support the UN RC with coordination. UN Heads of Agencies go
on mission to the worst affected districts to assess the extent of
damage on 19 November.

10. IFRC launched a preliminary emergency appeal on 16 November 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. Several donors, including the European Union, Germany, Saudi Arabia,
Switzerland United Kingdom, United States of America, have pledged to
assist the affected population of Bangladesh. More detailed information
is expected to be provided on 19 November.

12. 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)
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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