Bangladesh Flood Response Update

16th August 2007 (numbers updated from 12th August)



Summary


• Total fatalities to date is 481 as of 15th August 2007. Thirty of these deaths are from snakebites.
• More than 16 million people in 251 sub-districts under 39 districts have been badly affected by the floods which has damaged their homesteads, livelihoods and impacted on their health.
• With the receding flood waters, water borne diseases are infecting thousands of people, worst figures in a decade since the 1998 floods. Government has reported over 58,440 people admitted to hospital with diarrhoea.
• Flood-affected families are gradually returning to their flood-ravaged homes and land.
• Approximately 1.5 million acres of agricultural crops (seedbeds, transplanted seedlings, vegetables and standing jutes) are partially or fully damaged, the approximate worth over 150 million BDT.
• 532 educational institutions completely destroyed and 5608 partially damaged.
• 2,817 km roads completely and 17,463 roads partially damaged
• Over 89,000 homes completely and over 650,000 homes partially destroyed
• Floods waters continue to inundate much of the low-lying eastern part of Dhaka City and many people have taken shelter in government offices and schools. There is a shortage of food, and drinking water. Many people affected by flooding in-city have fallen sick with water-borne diseases.
• International Centre for Diarrhoeaal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDRB) hospital reports that the rate of admission of diarrhoea patients at the hospital is between 900 and 1000 every 24 hours

Forecasting

• The water levels of the major rivers are receding significantly. Some points on the major rivers are still above the danger level. For the last 4-5 days there has been a depression over the Bay of Bengal bringing rains which
will slow down the recession of flood waters.
• The inundation in eastern part of Dhaka City continues which has caused problems to the water and sewerage systems further aggravating the rate of water borne disease outbreaks in some areas.

Emergency Interventions

Government support

• As people are gradually returning home there are currently 1,004 shelters providing refuge to approximately 0.23 million people.
• The Relief Directorate has so far allocated 13,765 metric tons of rice to the 39 affected districts. The government has allocated a total of Tk. 12,866,500
for house building purposes. The government has also allocated another Tk. 4,150,000 for miscellaneous needs including rescue efforts and boat fare, etc.
• The government allocation so far is around Tk. 151,651,000 for relief to over 10.3 million flood affected people, making the per head allocation at Tk. 14.83.
• A total of 3,207 medical teams and 28 mobile hospitals are treating patients in different pars of the country.

Responses by other organisations

Many international and national NGOs are now actively involved in distributing relief. INGOS involved actively in the flood response include OXFAM, CARE, Concern Universal, IFRC, Action Aid and others.

Many corporate organisations are also distributing relief in the affected districts.

Despite the efforts by so many organisations and the government, it is still proving difficult to ensure that all affected families especially the poor are adequately reached and supported.

Narrative

Country Level Update (numbers updated from 9th August)

Since Thursday, 12th August, flood waters have significantly receded and almost all the rivers that were flowing above danger level are now on the way to receding below danger point, however for water to recede totally, will take at
least one-two weeks. As the waters are receding, flood-affected families are gradually returning to their flood-ravaged homes and land. With the receding flood waters, water borne diseases are infecting thousands of people, worst
figures in a decade since the 1998 floods. Government has reported over 58,440 people admitted to hospital with diarrhea.

Floods waters continue to inundate much of the low-lying eastern part of Dhaka City and many people have taken shelter in government offices and schools. There is a shortage of food, and drinking water. Many people affected by flooding in-city have fallen sick with water-borne diseases.

International Centre for Diarrhoeaal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDRB) hospital reports that the rate of admission of diarrhoea patients is between 900 and 1000 every 24 hours and almost all are admitted in critical conditions.

Since 30th July, 481 deaths have been recorded of which 30 died of snake bites.

39 of the country's 64 districts in the north, centre and east are affected and over 89,000 homes completely and more than 650,000 homes partially destroyed. More than 16 million people have been badly affected by the floods which has
damaged their homesteads, livelihoods and impacted on their health. Approximately 1.5 million acres of agricultural crops (seedbeds, transplanted seedlings, vegetables and standing jutes) are partially or fully damaged, with
estimated value of over 150 million BDT. 532 educational institutions completely destroyed and 5,608 partially damaged and 2,817 km roads completely and 17,463
roads partially damaged.

Government Response

A total of 3,207 medical teams and 28 mobile hospitals are working are treating patients in different pars of the country. With the receding floods, people are gradually returning home there are currently 1,004 shelters providing refuge to
approximately 0.23 million people.

The government allocation so far is around Tk. 151,651,000 for relief to over 10.3 million flood affected people, making the per head allocation at Tk. 14.83, which is less than the price of one kilogramme of rice.. The government allocations include Tk. 12,866,500 for house building purposes, Tk. 4,150,000 for miscellaneous needs including rescue efforts and boat fare, etc and 13,765
metric tons of rice.

Concern Worldwide Response

Concern has completed its relief response for 11,000 families in Sirajganj, Manikganj and Faridpur districts (31st july-9th August).

High Energy Biscuits supplied by WFP were distributed to 13,916 families in four districts (Faridpur, Rajbari, Shariatpur and Magura), each family received 3kg biscuits as a supplementary food for four days.

Concern and its partner agencies are monitoring the on-going effect of the floods and are investigating a phase two response with food suppplies for 3-4 weeks. This is designed to help families re-establish themselves and get back to work as their homes and land emerge from floodwaters. 400,000 Euro has already been confirmed from Concern Dublin for this work and additional funding is being sought from ECHO and Irish Aid amongst others. The relief package per family includes a food ration for 15 days consisting of 30 kg rice, 3kg pulse, 2 litres of oil, 1 kg salt, 5 packets ORS and 10 packets, soya protein biscuits.

Action Contre Le Faim (ACF) have met with Concern Bangladesh and have expressed interest to work with us through our partner NGOs to provide resources to reach safe drinking water to the flood affected families.

MSF have also been discussing how we my collaborate in tackling the current diarrhoea crisis. Whiel MSF will set up field centres to tackle large numbers of acute cases, Concern is likely to work with strategic partners to develop prevention strategies and ensure that affeceted families are seeking treatment at the approprate centres.