Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Emergency Response - Cyclone "Sidr", 26 November 2007



Click on chart to enlarge.


Click on chart to enlarge

Monday, November 26, 2007

Bangladesh Cyclone Sidr Update

25th November 2007 (updated from 22nd Nov 2007)

Cyclone damage in Patharghata, Barguna. Amin DRIK/Concern Nov 2007• The current death toll after Cyclone Sidr has been put at 3,060 by the Disaster Managemnt Bureau. Thousands are still missing and it is unofficially forecasted that the dead and missing will be over 10,000.

• According to government updates, 6.8 million people of over 1.6 million families have been affected in 200 upazilas. Over 3 million houses have been totally destroyed and 6 million houses partially damaged, at least 1475 tubewells damaged. Over 8000 educational institutions have completely destroyed.

• Over 2.6 million hectares of crops have been damaged or totally destroyed.

• About a hundred thousand hectares of the Sundarbans forest has been damaged. A potion of this forest that has been totally damaged will not re-grow while the areas partially damaged will re-grow.

• Road communication has improved.

Narrative


Country Level Update

Cyclone Sidr on the 15th November caused nightmare in Bangladesh. Ripping through the south western coast killing thousands of people, demolishing houses, crops, livestock left a trail of devastation over thousands of square kilometres. The winds reached 240km per hour hitting the coast at 7.30 pm on 15th November and cutting off all communications and utility services across the country.

Despite evacuation of hundreds of people, the country still suffered a high number of deaths. As of 25th November, the current death toll after Cyclone Sidr has been put at 3,060 and it is unofficially forecasted that the dead and missing will be over 10,000.

According to government updates, over 6.8 million people of over 1.6 million families have been affected in 200 upazilas. Over 3 million houses have been totally destroyed, 6 million houses partially damaged and at least at least 1475 tube-wells damaged. Over 8000 educational institutions have been destroyed. The education sector has been hard hit- academic activities of around 10,000 institutions have been badly damaged.
Dead bodies are still being collected and in many areas mass burials have had to be carried out without proper religious rites. It is reported that there is stench of rotting bodies and animal carcasses in the most hard hit areas. Road communication has improved.

About a hundred thousand hectares of the Sundarbans forest has been damaged. A portion of this forest that has been totally damaged will not re-grow while the areas partially damaged will re-grow.

Emergency Interventions

The government has so far sanctioned funds of US$7.1 million for housing in the cyclone hit areas, priority is being given to Patuakhali, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Barisal, Barguna, Jhalakati, Bhola, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Khulna and Satkhira. The armed forces are working with the government to provide relief for the people, and restore the utilities and communications. Dry food is being provided, however, many areas are still hard to reach and these people are facing acute crisis of food and fresh drinking water.

The international community continues to pledge more aid for the cyclone-hit victims. World Bank alone has promised $250 million in aid. Most of the small and local NGOs are also mobilising their own resources to do as much as they can for the cyclone victims. For example Concern’s partner organisations such as Sangram and Speed Trust have aided in rescue operations, mobilised local people to take care of mass burials, distributed dry food and other food rations for some families to address immediate food crisis. These small NGOs also arranged for transport of injured persons to nearest places for medical aid.

Concern Worldwide Response

Concern Worldwide, Bangladesh has deployed Concern staff and partner organisation staff to distribute relief to the affected and extremely poor families, keeping in mind the need to avoid duplication with relief operations by other NGOs.

Concern with funding from ECHO (Euro 580,000), People in Need (€18,000) and Irish Aid (€100,000) started relief operations in Barguna and Patuakhali districts for 26,000 extreme poor families from 24th November and this phase of relief will be completed by 29th November. It has been estimated that over 250 thousand families have been affected in these two districts. Concern sets priority to assist those families who have the least coping capacity and in areas where the response by other organisations may be limited. The relief package being given includes both food and non-food material. The relief package fixed according to International Sphere Standards will provide food for 15 days for each family. The relief operation will be implemented through three partner organisations – Speed Trust (Patuakhali) , Dhaka Ahsania Mission- DAM (Barguna) and Sangram (Barguna).

Details of working locations and number of families receiving relief (24-29 Nov 2007)















Irish Aid has also pledged to give another €150,000 to the cyclone relief activities while Concern will spend €250,000 of its own general donations on cyclone related relief and rehabilitation The planning for this is ongoing and will be finalised this week, due to start on 10th Dec.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Bangladesh Cyclone Sidr Update


22nd November 2007 (updated from 20th Nov 2007)



Majeda Begum and the shelter fashioned from materials from her wind-damaged house, Chari Para, Kalapara. Photo – Amin Drik/Concern, Nov 07• The current death toll after Cyclone Sidr has been put at 2982 by the government while the armed forces say it is 3167. Thousands are still missing and it is unofficially forecasted that the dead and missing will be over 10,000.

• According to government updates, over 4 million people of over 1.5 million families have been affected in 141 upazilas. Over 3 million houses have been totally destroyed and 6 million houses partially damaged, at least 1475 tubewells damaged. Over 8000 educational institutions have completely destroyed.

• Over 2.6 million hectares of crops have been damaged or totally destroyed.

• About a hundred thousand hectares of the Sundarbans forest has been damaged. A potion of this forest that has been totally damaged will not re-grow while the areas partially damaged will re-grow.

• Road communication is gradually improving. There is shortage of fresh water overall and of food and shelter.

Narrative

Country Level Update


Cyclone Sidr on the 15th November caused nightmare in Bangladesh. Ripping through the south western coast killing thousands of people, demolishing houses, crops, livestock left a trail of devastation over thousands of square kilometres. The winds reached 240km per hour hitting the coast at 7.30 pm on 15th November and cutting off all communications and utility services across the country.

Despite evacuation of hundreds of people, the country still suffered a high number of deaths. As of 22nd November, The current death toll after Cyclone Sidr has been put at 2982 by the government while the armed forces say it is 3167. Thousands are still missing and it is unofficially forecasted that the dead and missing will be over 10,000.

According to government updates, over 4 million people of over 1.5 million families have been affected in 141 upazilas. Over 3 million houses have been totally destroyed, 6 million houses partially damaged and at least at least 1475 tube-wells damaged. Over 8000 educational institutions have been destroyed. Dead bodies are still being collected and in many areas mass burials have had to be carried out without proper religious rites. It is reported that there is stench of rotting bodies and animal carcasses in the most hard hit areas. Road communication is improving. There is shortage of fresh water overall and of food and shelter.

About a hundred thousand hectares of the Sundarbans forest has been damaged. A portion of this forest that has been totally damaged will not re-grow while the areas partially damaged will re-grow.


Emergency Interventions


The government has sanctioned funds for housing in the cyclone hit areas, priority is being given to Patuakhali, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Barisal, Barguna, Jhalakati, Bhola, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Khulna and Satkhira. Furthermore the government will be giving VGF cards to 2.5 million families from the 1st of December. Over 730 medical teams are working in these affected areas. The armed forces are working with the government to provide relief for the people, and restore the utilities and communications. Dry food is being provided, however, many areas are still hard to reach and these people are facing acute crisis of food and fresh drinking water.

The international community continues to pledge more aid for the cyclone-hit victims. World Bank alone has promised $250 million in aid. Most of the small and local NGOs are also mobilising their own resources to do as much as they can for the cyclone victims. For example Concern’s partner organisations such as Sangram and Speed Trust have aided in rescue operations, mobilised local people to take care of mass burials, distributed dry food and other food rations for some families to address immediate food crisis. These small NGOs also arranged for transport of injured persons to nearest places for medical aid.


Concern Worldwide Response


Concern Worldwide, Bangladesh has deployed Concern staff and partner organisation staff to assess the extent of the disaster and identify the areas and communities which need help acutely, keeping in mind the need to avoid duplication with relief operations by other NGOs.

Concern with funding from ECHO (Euro 580,000) and Concern General Donations (Euro 116,123) has started relief operations in Barguna and Patuakhali districts for 26,000 extreme poor families. Families have been identified and procurement of goods is on-going. It has been estimated that over 250 thousand families have been affected in these two districts. Concern sets priority to assist those families who have the least coping capacity and in areas where the response by other organisations may be limited. The relief package being given includes both food and non-food material (see details in Map). The relief package fixed according to international Sphere Standards will provide food for 15 days for each family. The relief operation will be implemented through three partner organisations – Speed Trust (Patuakhali) , Dhaka Ahsania Mission- DAM (Barguna) and Sangram (Barguna).

Details of working location and number of families to be covered
















Concern has also applied to Irish Aid for Euro 100,000 in funds and is planning another longer term project incorporating both relief and rehabilitation interventions for the cyclone hit families. This proposal will be finalised by Saturday.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Kieron Crowley, Bangladesh Country Director of Concern, was interviewed on radio RTÉ

Kieron Crawley, the Bangladesh Country Director of Concern, was interviewed on RTE (national radio in Ireland) on the last Monday, 19 November 2007. Kieron says the people in Bangladesh are very resilient and also the government and civil society here has done a lot of work to prepare for such disasters.

RTÉ is a Public Service Broadcaster, a non-profit making organisation owned by the Irish people. RTÉ is Ireland's cross-media leader, providing comprehensive and cost-effective free-to-air television, radio and online services, which are of the highest quality and are impartial.Kieron says the people there are very resilient and a lot of work has been done to prepare for such disasters.

The clip can hear at the following link.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/1119/morningireland.html

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Bangladesh Cyclone Sidr Update

20th November 2007 (updated from 19th Nov 2007)



Hurricane damage Kalapara, Patukhali District.Photo –Mahmud, Map/Concern, Nov 07• The current death toll after Cyclone Sidr has been put at 2753 by the government while the armed forces say it is 3113. Thousands are still missing and it is unofficially forecasted that the dead and missing will be over 10,000.

• According to government updates, over 4 million people of over one million families have been affected in 141 upazilas. Over 3 million houses have been totally destroyed and 6 million houses partially damaged. Over 790 educational insitutions have completely destroyed and about 4400 partially.

• About a hundred thousand hectares of the Sundarbans forest has been damaged. A potion of this forest that has been totally damaged will not re-grow while the areas partially damaged will re-grow.

• Road communication is gradually improving. There is shortage of fresh water overall and of food and shelter

Narrative

Country Level Update

Cyclone Sidr on the 15th November caused nightmare in Bangladesh. Ripping through the south western coast killing thousands of people, demolishing houses, crops, livestock left a trail of devastation over thousands of square kilometres. The winds reached 240km per hour hitting the coast at 7.30 pm on 15th November and cutting off all communications and utility services across the country.

Despite evacuation of hundreds of people, the country still suffered a high number of deaths. As of 20th November, The current death toll after Cyclone Sidr has been put at 2753 by the government while the armed forces say it is 3113. Thousands are still missing and it is unofficially forecasted that the dead and missing will be over 10,000.

According to government updates, over 4 million people of over one million families have been affected in 141 upazilas. Over 3 million houses have been totally destroyed and 6 million houses partially damaged. Over 790 educational institutions have completely destroyed and about 4400 partially. Dead bodies are still being collected and in many areas mass burials have had to be carried out without proper religious rites. It is reported that there is stench of rotting bodies and animal carcasses in the most hard hit areas. Road communication is improving. There is shortage of fresh water overall and of food and shelter.

About a hundred thousand hectares of the Sundarbans forest has been damaged. A potion of this forest that has been totally damaged will not re-grow while the areas partially damaged will re-grow.

Emergency Interventions

The government has sanctioned Tk 35 crore for housing in the cyclone hit areas, priority is being given to Patuakhali, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Barisal, Barguna, Jhalakati, Bhola, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Khulna and Satkhira. Currently 732 medical teams are working in these areas. Rescue operations are being carried out by the army, air force and navy. Dry food is being provided, however, many areas are still hard to reach and these people are facing acute crisis of food and fresh drinking water.

The government has welcomed assistance form the international community. The donors have so far pledged $142 million in aid. After two floods this year, Bangladesh economy will be hard hit. The international community, i.e. the UN, EU, Germany, USA, UK, Saudi Arabia and others have expressed that they will make funds available to respond to Bangladesh’s disaster.

Most of the small and local NGOs are also mobilising their won resources to do as much as they can for the cyclone victims. For example Concern’s partner organisations such as Sangram and Speed Trust have aided in rescue operations, mobilised local people to take care of mass burials, distributed dry food and other food rations for some families to address immediate food crisis. These small NGOs also arranged for transport of injured persons to nearest places for medical aid.

Concern Worldwide Response

Concern Worldwide, Bangladesh is continuously monitored the situation and has deployed Concern staff and partner organisation staff to assess the extent of the disaster and identify the areas and communities which need help acutely, keeping in mind the need to avoid duplication with relief operations by other NGOs.

Concern with funding from ECHO (Euro 580,000) and Concern General Donations (Euro 100,000) has started relief operations in Barguna and Patuakhali districts for 26,000 extreme poor families. It has been estimated that over 250 thousand families have been affected, death toll so far 1903 in these two districts. Concern sets priority to assist those families who have the least coping capacity and in areas where the response by other organisations may be limited. The relief package being given includes both food and non-food material (see details in Map). The relief package fixed according to international Sphere Standards will provide food for 15 days for each family. The relief operation will be implemented through three partner organisations – Speed Trust (Patuakhali) , Dhaka Ahsania Mission- DAM (Barguna) and Sangram (Barguna).

Details of working location and number of families to be covered

Monday, November 19, 2007

Bangladesh Cyclone SIDR Update

19th November 2007


Cyclone Kills Hundreds in Bangladesh: Hasu Begum (R) and her sister Niru react after their 80-year-old mother was killed, when their house collapsed during the cyclone, in Bakerganj, 340 km (211 miles) southwest of Dhaka, November 17, 2007.  (Rafiqur Rahman/Reuters) · Disaster management control room reported 2,300 people dead in 23 districts due to the Cyclone Sidr which hit Bangladesh on 15th November. It is also reported from different sources that over 4,000 people are seriously injured. The Bangladesh Red Crescent has expressed fears that the death toll will cross 10,000
· Thousands are still missing and it is unofficially forecasted that the dead and missing will be over 5,000.
· It is estimated that the cyclone has affected 887,000 families of 103 upazilas, killed 242,000 livestock and destroyed crops on 23,000 acres of land and flattened nearly three million houses.
· Road communication with southern districts was disrupted due to fallen tress and debris caused by the cyclone. Many of the affected areas are inaccessible and can be reached only by helicopter.
· The whole country suffered electricity shortage and subsequent shortage in water supplies in the major cities from night of 15th. Dhaka city returned to normalcy after 36 hours. Countrywide, there are still problems in electricity supply.
· There are extreme shortages in food supplies and shelter in the affected areas.

Narrative


Country Level Update

Cyclone Sidr on the 15th November caused nightmare in Bangladesh. Ripping through the south western coast killing thousands of people, demolishing houses, crops, livestock left a trail of devastation over thousands of square kilometres. The winds reached 240km per hour hitting the coast at 7.30 pm on 15th November and cutting off all communications and utility services across the country.

Despite evacuation of hundreds of people, the country still suffered a high number of deaths. As of 18th November, the disaster management control room reported death of 2,300 people in 23 districts due to the Cyclone Sidr. It is also reported from different sources that nearly 4,000 people are seriously injured. Thousands are still missing and it is unofficially forecasted that the dead and missing will be over 5,000. It is estimated that the cyclone has affected 887,000 families of 103 upazilas, killed 242,000 livestock and destroyed crops on 23,000 acres of land and flattened nearly three million houses.

According to an official of the Agriculture Extension department crop loss will be more than Tk 49.7 billion. Tidal waves 6-7 feet high engulfed the coastal areas washing away everything in their path. The actual destruction in the Sundarbans (the world’s largest mangrove forest and home to the Royal Bengal Tiger) cannot be ascertained. Aerial footage by the national TV channels have shown dead wildlife amongst broken vegetation and forestation. There are extreme shortages in water and food supplies and shelter in the affected areas.

Dead bodies are being collected and in many areas mass burials have had to be carried out without proper religious rites. Road communication with southern districts was disrupted due to fallen trees and debris caused by the cyclone. Many of the affected areas are inaccessible and can be reached only by helicopter. This is hampering relief and rescue operations. Steps are being taken by the government and army to restore road network and power supply across the country to normalcy as soon possible.

The whole country suffered electricity shortage and subsequent shortage in water supplies in the major cities from night of 15th. Dhaka city returned to normalcy after 36 hours. Countrywide, there are still problems in electricity supply.

Emergency Interventions

The government has sanctioned Tk 35 crore for housing in the cyclone hit areas, priority is being given to Patuakhali, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Barisal, Barguna, Jhalakati, Bhola, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Khulna and Satkhira. Currently 732 medical teams are working in these areas. Rescue operations are being carried out by the army, air force and navy. Dry food is being provided, however, many areas are still hard to reach and these people are facing acute crisis of food and fresh drinking water.

The government welcomes assistance form the international community. The donors have pledged $25 million in aid. After two floods this year, Bangladesh economy will be hard hit. The international community, i.e. the UN, EU, Germany, USA, UK and others have expressed that they will make funds available to respond to Bangladesh’s disaster.

WFP has sent dry food to the affected areas and the Red Crescent has 42,000volunteers working in these areas. Red Crescent will be providing non-food materials such as clothes, water-purifying tablets and medicine to the coastal districts. National NGOs like BRAC have mobilised its funds for the response and deployed 2,500 staff round the clock to help in the worst affected coastal districts. Similarly many INGOs and donors are making assessments and preparations to respond as soon as possible.

Concern Worldwide Response

Click on image to enlargeConcern Worldwide, Bangladesh continuously monitored the situation and deployed Concern staff and partner organisation staff to assess the extent of the disaster and identify the areas and communities which need help acutely, keeping in mind the need to avoid duplication with relief operations by other NGOs.

Concern has been in communication with EC and is forming a proposal to assist 26,000 extremely poor families in Patuakhali and Barguna. It has been estimated that over 250 thousand families have been affected, death toll so far 1487 in these two districts. The relief package being proposed includes both food and non-food material (see details in Map). Concern is receiving funds of Euro 580,000 from EC and Euro100,000 from Concern General Donations. The relief operations have started today in the target areas.