Bangladesh Flood Response Update

19th August 2007 (numbers updated from 16th August)

Summary

* Total fatalities to date are 700 as of 18th August 2007. Thirty of these deaths are from snakebites.

* International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease and Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) hospital reports that the rate of admission of diarrhoea patients continues unabated and is between 900 and 1000 every 24 hours.

* Rate of eye infections have also increased sharply* Though many flood-affected families were returning to their flood-ravaged homes last week, many are under the threat of another following flood. (See forecast)

Other damage to the country as reported previously are-

* 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.

* 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.

Forecasting

* Flood situation is likely to deteriorate in the central districts of the country. Last week the flood waters had receded significantly in most parts of the country, however with the depression at Bay of Bengal bringing incessant rains has caused the rivers around the central districts to rise.

* The districts being affected yet again by floods are Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Sharaitpur, Gopalganj, Chandpur, Dhaka (Dohar and Nawabganj upazilas).

* The flood situation around Dhaka City remains unchanged and is expected to worsen over the next few days.

Emergency Interventions

Government Support

* As people are gradually returning home there are currently 613 shelters providing refuge to approximately 0. 16 million people.

* In addition to the relief distributed so far, the government has announced that they will provide every month 10kg of rice to a total of 2,981,500 extremely poor families in all the districts affected by the flood affected families with a month’s supply of rice. This rice distribution is to start on 22nd August.

* 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 some of which are

* World Food Programme distributing HEB (high Energy Biscuits among 164,410 families (73.62 MT biscuits, for each family receiving 3kg)

* WFP planning to distribute rice (2466.15 MT) and biscuits (49.32 MT) among 164,410 families.

* UNICEF distributed 63.74 MT BP5 biscuits among 42,495 families in first phase and 73.62MT among 24,538 families in second phase.

* UNICEF also distributed plastic sheets among 23,000 families.

* UNDP is distributing dry food (Flatten rice, molasses) and non-food (Soap, sarees and lungis (cloths), mosquito nets etc) items among 70,700 families in 17 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 16th August)

Since last week flood waters in many areas in the north and especially the central districts that were receding have started to rise again and the flood situation is likely to deteriorate in the central districts of the country. The depression bringing incessant rains has caused the rivers around the central districts to rise.The districts being affected yet again by floods are Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Sharaitpur, Gopalganj, Chandpur, Dhaka (Dohar and Nawabganj upazilas). The flood situation around Dhaka City remains unchanged and is expected to worsen over the next few days. In addition to diarrhoea, eye infections are also on the rise.Since July 30the total fatalities to date are 700 as of 18th August 2007. In addition to diarrhoea, eye infections are also on the rise.Other damage to the country as reported previously are- 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. As people are gradually returning home there are currently 613 shelters providing refuge to approximately 0.16 million people. In addition to the relief distributed so far, the government has announced that they will provide every month 10kg of rice to a total of 2,981,500 extremely poor families in all the districts affected by the flood affected families with a month’s supply of rice. This rice distribution is to start on 22nd August.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 have planned a phase two response to support 69,500 families with food and non-food relief for 4 weeks. This is subject to funding that will be obtained. 400,000 Euro has already been confirmed from Concern Headquarter in Dublin. Relief distribution has started for 24,500 families in 8 districts within August. Relief package per family includes 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. Concern has requested Irish Aid to fund the relief distribution for theses 24,500 most adversely affected families.

Concern has also requested ECHO to provide fund to support another 31,000 families. Other proposals submitted to fund the flood response are to Isle of Man (IOM) and to Guernsey. Concern continues to contact different donors to ensure adequate resources to implement its overall emergency response plan.

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 and sanitation facilities to the flood affected families.