Cyclone Sidr Update

November 20, 2007

 

 

Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font.

 

Current Status

 

The Bangladeshi Ministry of Food and Disaster Management’s Information Center (DMIC) said in its Tuesday (November 20) situation report that 2,837 people had been killed by Tropical Cyclone Sidr, which struck the coast of southwest Bangladesh as a category four storm (five is the highest) at 20:30 local time Thursday (November 15) and affected nearly 5.5 million people. However, media reports on Tuesday continued to quote the DMIC as saying the death toll was 3,113. Bangladeshi Red Crescent officials are still saying that as flood waters recede and relief workers gain access to the more remote parts of the country, the death toll could rise as high as 10,000. At least 2,176 people, nearly half of them fishermen, were reported to be missing as well. Another estimated 15,000 people were also reported to have been injured. Originating in the Bay of Bengal, Sidr struck the southwestern coast of Bangladesh Thursday, packing winds between 87 and 103 mph (140 and 165 kph). The Bangladeshi Meteorological Department reported that Sidr had a radius of 311 miles (500 km) with the eye of the storm having winds between 137 and 150 mph (220 and 240 kph). Areas along the coast and small offshore islands received the brunt of the storm, which struck in 15 districts from Cox’s Bazar in the country’s extreme southeast to Satkira district on the western border with India. Worst hit were the first-hit areas of Khulna and Barisal Divisions, which sustained storm surges measuring 15 feet (six meters) in height. Barguna, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi and Bagerhat districts were hit the hardest, with 979 people reported dead in Barguna alone. In Bagerhat, 713 people have been reported dead so far. Sidr had dissipated by late Friday (November 16), although heavy rains continued across Bangladesh and northeastern India for several days.

 

Sidr was the strongest cyclone to hit Bangladesh since a 1991 storm killed some 143,000 people in the country. Communication lines in many areas of the country, including the capital, Dhaka, a city of some 10 million people, were disrupted and most had not been restored as of Sunday, according to media reports and the IFRC, so assessments for many affected areas could not be made. Electricity has been restored in many parts of the country and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported Tuesday that power was back on in 70 to 75 percent of areas in the 11 worst-affected districts.

 

The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) officially requested international aid on Tuesday, saying that the Bangladeshi Armed Forces Division (AFD), which is coordinating the relief effort, had not yet been able to distribute aid to about 30 percent of hard-hit coastal areas. According to OCHA, a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team remains stood down. The Bangladeshi minister in charge of disaster management, Tapan Chowdhury, said Tuesday that his administration had so far received offers of US$142 million worth of international emergency aid. Among the foreign governments offering the largest donations so far are Saudi Arabia (US$100 million), the European Commission (US$9.5 million), Great Britain (US$5 million), Canada (US$3 million), Australia (US$2.7 million) and Kuwait (US$2.3 million). The US has so far given at least US$2.1 million. International aid agencies have pledged a total of at least US$25 million.

 

Relief operations coordinated between the GoB, UN agencies and NGOs continued Tuesday, with the primary concern being the lack of accessibility to the remote areas of the countries. Local officials have expressed frustrations in many areas with having sufficient relief supplies but no way to get them to those in need.

 

The Disaster and Emergency Response Group (DER) comprised of UN, GoB, and NGOs have determined that dry food, water purification tablets and medicines have been identified as the most urgent needs. Local officials began reporting outbreaks of diarrhea on Tuesday in districts where purified water and medical supplies are scarce. Health officials remain concerned about the potential for cholera outbreaks.

 

UN World Food Program (WFP) country representative Douglas Casson Coutts said Tuesday that the extent of Sidr’s damage will make it difficult for Bangladeshis to rebuild their lives. “There is significant damage to the infrastructure,” AFP quoted Coutts as saying. “There will definitely have to be longer term assistance to get people on their feet again.”

 

Although an estimated 5 million people live in the most vulnerable areas of coastal Bangladesh, the government estimated that up to 3.2 million were evacuated before the storm, at least 620,000 to official cyclone shelters. More than 40,000 Bangladeshi policemen, soldiers, coastguards and health care workers were deployed along the coast Thursday, according to the BBC.

 

Impact

 

The Disaster Management Information Center (DMIC) reported Tuesday that as of 18:00 local time, the official death toll was 2,837 and was expected to rise. Most media reports, however, continued to report a government death toll of 3,113. There was no significant climb Tuesday in the death tolls reported by local media, with most remaining under 4,000. At least 15,000 people have been injured. In addition, at least 2,176 people, about half of them fishermen, were missing as of Tuesday, according to DMIC figures. The Bangladeshi Red Crescent Society estimates up to 10,000 people may have died in the storm. (AFP, Nov. 18) According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA), in the capital, Dhaka, some 200 miles north of the worst-hit region, at least 11 people were killed and 500 injured.

 

The worst-hit districts included Barguna, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi and Bagerhat, where 60 to 70 percent of homes were destroyed. According to the DMIC, at least 979 people were killed in Barguna district and at least 713 died in Bagerhat. Other hardest affected districts were Pirojpur, Barisal, Bhola, Madaripur, Sariatpur, Gopalganj, Khulna and Satkhira (The New Nation, Nov. 18)

 

DMIC says the storm affected a total of 5,488,216 people, including 1,322,824 families.

The DMIC reported Tuesday that 1,123,553 homes had been damaged. About 1.5 million coastal villagers who had not evacuated coastal areas before Thursday have now fled to shelters where they can receive emergency rations. (DMIC, Nov. 20).

 

Reuters reports that in many areas, 95 percent of rice crops were badly damaged. Rice crops are usually harvested in December. Hundreds of shrimp farms have also reportedly washed away. DMIC says a total of 1,419,683 acres (574,525 hectares) of crops have been damaged. Additionally, at least 250,000 cattle and poultry were reported to have died. (AP, Nov. 18)

 

Officials in affected areas where relief supplies have been slow to arrive say the shortage of purified drinking water and medicine has caused outbreaks of diarrhea. (Reuters, Nov. 20) The UN and many NGOs have expressed concerns about the potential for a cholera outbreak, as well.

 

The storm took out the National Power Grid for several days and electricity was lost all over the country, including in Dhaka. By Tuesday, the Bangladeshi Armed Forces Division (AFD) was reporting that power had been restored in many places and only 25 to 30 percent of areas in the 11 worst affected districts were still without power. (OCHA, Nov. 20)

 

Background

 

Storms kill hundreds of people in coastal Bangladesh every year, but occasional severe cyclones kill hundreds of thousands. A cyclone and its subsequent tidal surge in 1991 killed nearly 140,000 and destroyed thousands of homes, and a 1970 storm killed about a half a million people. The most deadly recent storm to hit Bangladesh was a tornado that leveled 80 villages and killed 621 people in the country’s north in 1996.

 

International assistance was requested following tropical cyclone Marian (also unofficially known as Cyclone Gorky), which hit the Chittagong district of southeastern Bangladesh on April 29, 1991 with winds of 155 mph, killing more than 138,000 people. The storm caused an estimated $1.5 billion (1991 US dollars) in damage. Crops were destroyed and agricultural fields were flooded with ocean water, contaminating the soil and drinking water. In response, the United States military provided immediate practical assistance in emergency and short-term recovery operations by establishing a Contingency Joint Task Force and launching Operation Sea Angel. These efforts were credited with saving as many as 200,000 lives.

 

 

Country Profile

 

Bangladesh, with an estimated population of 140 million, is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world due to its geographical location. With its economy heavily dependent on agriculture, the frequency of natural disasters such as floods, cyclones and accompanying storm surges, river-bank erosion, and drought, has hindered economic growth and poverty alleviation, thereby exacerbating the population’s vulnerability to risk.

 

Due to the regularity of major floods and cyclones, which hit the country on an annual basis, Bangladesh has in place a well-established and organized national disaster response structure integrating international aid organizations and on occasion foreign militaries.

 

Bangladesh’s traditional disaster management model focusing on disaster relief and recovery has evolved into a more holistic approach embracing the processes of hazard identification and mitigation, community preparedness, and integrated response efforts. As such, the Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation was renamed to the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM) in 2003.

 

The Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) was created in 1992 to serve as a technical arm to the MoFDM, overseeing and coordinating all disaster management activities from the national to the grassroots level and maintaining liaison with government agencies, donors, and NGOs to ensure cooperation and coordination.

 

Although Bangladesh continues to strengthen its own capacity to handle wide-scale natural disasters, there will likely be future disasters where international humanitarian assistance is again requested. In Bangladesh and elsewhere, US interests would be well-served by an effective response to disasters. US military expertise and resources could be utilized not only to save lives, but also to possible prevent destabilization. While there has been considerable debate regarding the appropriateness of expanding the role of the US military vis-à-vis non-combat operations, the US military has a long history of humanitarian response and offers considerable assets to the humanitarian community. Coordination, however, between the military and non-governmental humanitarian community continues to be an area where improvement is needed.

 

 

Government Response

 

The Government of Bangladesh (GoB ) on Tuesday officially called for international aid, saying its army had yet to deliver aid to about 30 percent of coastal villages that were devastated by Sidr. (BBC, Nov. 20) A statement released by the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry said, “At this time we will welcome support from the international community. We are doing as best as we can do ourselves.” The GoB had said since Thursday that it did not require international aid because it believed it had the internal capacity to deal with the disaster itself. Before Tuesday’s announcement, it had already received some US$142 million in aid from foreign governments, UN agencies and NGOs. (AP, Nov. 20)

 

As workers clear roads of thousands of fallen trees, aid convoys are finally able to get through to some of the most inaccessible areas. (AFP, Nov. 20) Helicopters, planes, boats and thousands of ground troops and aid workers have been involved in the struggle to access these areas, some of which are only accessible by boat because coastal Bangladesh is a maze of waterways, creeks, islands and sandbanks. Vital relief items including tents, rice and water have been slow to reach people in those areas.

 

The GoB’s Ministry of Food and Disaster Management has allocated 4,000 metric tons of rice, 7,500 tents and 18,000 blankets and provided about US$440,000 in relief grants to affected areas. UNOCHA reported that as of Monday, the GoB had allocated US$1.5 million (100 million BDT) for immediate relief and house construction, along with a special fund of US$5.2 million (350 million BDT) for long-term housing construction. Monday, the BAF conducted 17 helicopter missions, each delivering 2.4 metric tons of supplies. As of Monday, BAF had delivered 5 metric tons of UNWFP protein biscuits. Six GoB Navy ships continue to conduct rescue, evacuation, relief and reconnaissance operations. (USAID, Nov. 19) GoB said Tuesday that relief supplies for distribution would increase in the coming weeks as the more than US$142 million that has been promised from international donors starts to roll in.

 

Bangladesh’s Army Chief, Gen. Moeen U Ahmed, visited Sharankhola, the worst-hit remote sub-district of coastal Bagerhat district, the area which has stained the most damage and lies about 87 miles (140 km) southwest of Dhaka. He assured all possible help from the government, announcing that a floating medical hospital would be set up off the coast and pledging that each family of those killed in the cyclone would receive about US$143 (10,000 taka) and funeral assistance from the government. (Xinhua, Nov. 20)

 

The Bangladeshi armed forces continue to coordinate the overall relief operation, having deployed helicopters, ships, medical teams and thousands of soldiers in coastal areas. The Bangladeshi Navy and Coast Guard have begun work on rebuilding homes as they continue to help civil officials remove trees from blocked roads. (Reuters, Nov. 20)

 

On Saturday, the GoB formed a three-member committee comprising of the Joint Secretary (Food), MoFDM; Director General of the Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) and a National Programme Management expert of the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) to coordinate government and NGO efforts. (DMIC, Nov-18) Subdivision administrations are working to assess the total damage and loss due to Sidr as many acres of crops especially, Aman Rice and winter crops, are damaged. (DMIC, Nov-18)

 

The divisional commissioners of Barisal and Khulna have suggested some subdivisions of the worst-affected districts of Patuakhali, Borguna, Bagerhat, Jhalokati, Khulna and Pirojpur should get relief priority. (DMIC, Nov-18) GoB has started its vulnerable group feeding program in the southern districts and is considering raising its original allocation of 10kg of rice per person to 20 kg of rice per person. (The Daily Star, Nov. 19)

 

The GoB opened at least 2,168 emergency shelters ahead of the storm, the DMIC reported. The shelters were holding 1.5 million people and are reportedly equipped with medical teams, medicines and dry foods. (DMIC Nov. 16) On Sunday, the Bangladeshi Air Force (BAF), army and navy were working together to provide shelter for many of the displaced (CNN Nov. 18)

 

National Response

 

The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, with assistance from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has deployed 4 assessment teams and 12 mobile health teams. At least 42,000 Red Crescent Society volunteers were said to be working in coastal areas as of Sunday. (Xinhua, Nov. 18) According to DMIC, the Bangladeshi Red Crescent Society has so far distributed US$840,000 worth of relief goods, including 10,200 blankets. It has also disturbed at least US$95,587 (6.4 million Bangladesh taka) to the 18 most affected districts. IFRC allocated CHF 250,000 (US$223,000) from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). (OCHA, Nov. 16) On Saturday, Red Crescent spokeswoman Nabiha Chowdhury said that water purification had become a top priority and that Red Crescent teams were equipped with resources to help people purify their water. (CNN Nov. 18)

 

Early warning and preparedness systems were in place based on the initial tracking of the storm over the Bay of Bengal for seven days prior to the impact and are being credited with saving many lives.

 

 

International Response

 

The Bangladeshi minister in charge of disaster management, Tapan Chowdhury, said Tuesday that his administration had so far received offers of US$142 million worth of international emergency aid. (DMIC, Nov. 20) International aid agencies alone have pledged US$25 million.

 

United Nations

 

The UN is distributing 208 tons 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 are currently distributing dry food (flattened rice and molasses) to 70,000 affected families. (OCHA, Nov. 20)

 

The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator released an initial allocation of US$9 million from the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) for projects in the following clusters: Agriculture, Child Protection, Food, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation, Shelter and Non-Food Items. A second round of allocations is subject to completed needs assessments in the coming days. (OCHA, Nov. 20)

 

The UN deployed an assessment team on 17 November. The team is currently carrying out assessments in conjunction with district disaster management authorities in the worst-affected districts. (OCHA, Nov. 20)

 

According to UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team has been stood down as the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and UN Country teams and agencies are able to manage the disaster. (OCHA, Nov. 16)

 

Coordinated by the Disaster and Emergency Response (DER) group, a Joint UN Rapid Assessment Team comprised of 12 experts left Dhaka Saturday to assess affected areas that had not yet been covered. The team was made up of WHO, WFP, UNICEF and UNDP. (UNOCHA, Nov. 17) The DER, comprised of UN, GoB, and NGOs, has determined that dry food, water purification tablets and medicines have been identified as the most urgent needs. (UNICEF, Nov. 16)

 

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and two rapid Disaster Response Advisers are being deployed to assist the UN Country Team (UNCT) on the ground. (OCHA, Nov. 16)

 

The UN Development Program (UNDP) has pledged US$7 million in relief grants to Bangladesh. (The Daily Star, Nov. 19) UNDP plans to provide 5 kilograms of flattened rice and 1 kilogram of molasses per family for some 70,000 families in the districts of Patuakhali, Bagerhat, Borguna, Perojpur, Barisal, Jhalokathi, Satkhira, Khulna, Bhola, Noakhali, Chandpu and Madaripur through its partner organizations that include South Asian Partnership, Sushilan, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Resource Integration Center, Prodipan, Bangladesh National Scouts, Rural Reconstruction Foundation, Village Education and Resource Center, Dip Unnayan Shanstha, Islamic relief and Shariatpur Development Society. UNDP also plans to provide 240,000 packets of water purification powder or one week supply for each family through Bangladesh National Scouts (BNS) in affected areas. About 18,000 sheets of tripol will also be distributed through BNS of which some 4,000 sheets will be ready for distribution in 48-72 hours. (DMIC, Nov-18)

 

UNICEF has pledged US$6.8 million in relief funds and plans to supply safe water, medicine, and food to the millions affected by Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh. UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) counterpart Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) is planning to transport water to the affected districts by trucks through roads that may be open for use. (The Daily Star, Nov. 19) Carrying water with jerry cans are also an option for which will provide support. UNICEF is going to provide cash assistance for buying jerry cans, transportation and other expenses involved in making safe water available to the affected population. A stock of 7.3 million WPT (Water Purification Tablets) provided by UNICEF during the recent floods are available for immediate distribution (2 million with DPHE and 5.3 million at the Central Medical Store Depot (CMSD) of the Ministry of Health). UNICEF ready to provide all assistance based on needs and as requested by the government. Essential medicines provide by UNICEF during and the after the floods to replenish stock are available in the system for channeling to the affected population and are considered adequate. UNICEF will work with WFP in distribution of dry food and BP5 biscuits, and with Save the Children USA on other aspects of relief and rehabilitation focusing on children. Some 1300 recreational kits for children pre-positioned during the floods are still available with 20 partners NGOs. UNICEF is also moving ahead with procurement of family kits, plastic sheets and more dry food as needed. The most commonly used dry foods are flattened rice, puffed rice and molasses. UNICEF is ready to provide cash assistance for procurement and distribution of dry food. (UNICEF, Nov. 17)

 

The UN Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) met Friday (November 16) to assess the situation and strategize a joint UN response. The meeting was chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator, and participated by all agencies including Representatives of UNICEF and WFP.

 

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) and OCHA have published a joint Environmental Risk Identification report for Bangladesh available on Relief Web. (www.reliefweb.int). (UNEP, Nov. 16)

 

The UN’s World Food Program (WFP) and the Bangladesh Air Force on Monday started using helicopters to air-drop WFP high-energy biscuits to people in inaccessible areas. WFP says that so far it has delivered biscuits to more than 650,000 people. WFP will also distribute more than 2,000 MT of high energy biscuits over the next few days to provide for some 15 days of food. Plans are also being finalized to start distributing rice as people start returning to their villages. WFP is coordinating the cyclone rehabilitation program on behalf of international agencies in Bangladesh. WFP representatives met Sunday with the Bangladeshi Food and Disaster Management Ministry and were awaiting an assessment report from their 12-member team that is visiting remote areas before sketching out further short- and long-term assistance plans. Food management, medical support and temporary shelter will be given top priority. (The Daily Star, Nov. 19)WFP has deployed response teams to southwest Bangladesh to help manage its workers stationed there, who will distribute an estimated 98 tons of ready food from WFP’s emergency hub to feed an estimated 400,000 victims, Xinhua News Agency reported Friday. WFP sending high-energy biscuits which it says is enough to feed 400,000 people for three days. (BBC, Nov. 17)

 

The World Health Organization (WHO): “surge” team is on its way to the country. WHO also reported that it had local polio surveillance officials in Bangladesh who were ready to cooperate with local health authorities to help in any capacity. As of late Friday local time, a total of 116 medical teams and hundreds of Red Crescent volunteers were working in the affected areas, according to UN sources.

 

 

NGOs / IOs:

 

 

ActionAid is launching a €1M (US$1.5 million) appeal. ActionAid has started an immediate relief operation working with local organizations to distribute dry food, clothes and water purifying tablets to those most in need as well as setting up kitchens delivering hot cooked food.

The charity will also be working towards longer term rehabilitation, helping communities to rebuild and restock. (AA, Nov. 20)

 

Action by Churches Together International (ACT), through its member Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB), formed an Emergency Monitoring Team on Wednesday (November 14) to maintain contact with local offices. Other ACT members in Bangladesh are Christian Aid, Church of Bangladesh, KOINONIA and Lutheran Health Care Bangladesh. (ACT, Nov. 16)

 

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is on the ground, based out of Dhaka, and assessing the immediate needs of survivors. Once assessments are completed, ADRA will initiate emergency response, which is expected to include food, water, shelter, and clothing. (ADRA, Nov. 16)

 

American Red Cross says it will provide US$1.2 million to help get clean water to survivors and build emergency shelters. (ARC, Nov. 20)

 

The British Red Cross has set up a Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal to raise money for those affected to provide relief including food, blankets, medical supplies and emergency shelter items. (BRC, Nov. 19)

                                                                                                                 

CARE responded immediately after the cyclone struck by moving equipment into the area to provide safe drinking water, and emergency items ranging from plastic sheeting to candles, and emergency food rations for at least 5,000 families. (CARE, Nov. 16) CARE sent a relief team in a jeep on Saturday, but they had to return halfway as the roads and channels were impassable due to fallen trees and mud. Small ferries were the only transport across river channels and had been damaged by the cyclone. CARE will attempt relief delivery again on Sunday on bicycles, and hire local country boats. (AP, Nov. 17)

 

Caritas is assessing damages, identifying needs to provide assistance, and sending additional staff to conduct a multi-sectoral needs assessment under the Barisaland Khulna Regional Offices. (Caritas, Nov. 16)

 

CARE Canada is starting the distribution of emergency food rations and supplies to 5,000 families to help them survive the vital days following the damage of the cyclone. CARE is also helping produce 10,000 litres of safe drinking water per day to the affected area to help prevent disease outbreaks and dysentery. (CARE, Nov. 19)

 

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and its partner Caritas Bangladesh anticipate reaching 57,700 people (12,500 families) this week with emergency food distributions and relief supplies as the first stage of a long-term recovery effort. CRS has committed US$500,000 to the relief effort thus far. (CRS, Nov. 20)

 

Concern, an Irish organization, has been working with the European Commission to propose a plan to assist 26,000 poor families in hard-hit Patuakhali and Barguna districts. The agency is receiving funds of US$850,269 (580,000 Euros) from the European Commission and US$146,603 (100,000 Euros) from Concern General Donations to conduct the operations. (German Agro Action, Nov. 19)

 

Global Medic is sending aid items, including medicines, water tablets and water purification equipment. They expect to deploy a water and medical team, pending confirmation from their country partner, Muslim Aid, on the ground. The team will likely deploy on Monday (November 19) for a 10-day operation. (David McAntony Gibson Foundation–Canada, Nov. 17)

 

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) is working with the IFRC to carry out assessments in ten districts. The Federation also deployed a Field Assessment and Coordination (FACT) team on 19 November. (OCHA, Nov. 20) IFRC has released US$223,000 from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to support Bangladesh Red Crescent (BRC) relief operations and is appealing for US$3.6 million more to assist 235,000 affected people. Some 40,000 BRC volunteers have been mobilized since Wednesday to alert and evacuate people, and continue to help distribute relief items, provide first aid and assist with search and rescue. On Friday, seven teams of IFRC and BRC members were deployed for rapid assessments of damage, and rescue and medical mobile teams were on standby. (IFRC, Nov. 16)

 

Islamic Relief has allocated US$1million for emergency response and is set to distribute emergency shelter material and food and dispatch teams of doctors and health workers. (Islamic Relief, Nov. 16)

 

Medical Assistance Programs (MAP) has been in contact with relief workers on the ground to determine immediate needs. In addition to emergency relief, MAP is also assessing the long-term needs. (MAP, Nov. 16)

 

Mercy Corps is helping colleague organizations on the ground in Bangladesh deliver much-needed assistance to what the government says are three million cyclone-affected survivors. (MC, Nov. 19)

 

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is assessing humanitarian needs in southern Bangladesh. MCC is accepting financial contributions for its work in Bangladesh. MCC has worked in Bangladesh since the early 1970s, when MCC helped provide relief following a cyclone. In addition to providing disaster relief, MCC supports agricultural development, job creation, peace-building, education and improving water sources in Bangladesh. (MCC, Nov. 20)

 

Muslim Aid sent out relief teams through its Bangladesh Field Office on Friday to Barisal, Patuakhali and Mongla with 500,000 Bangladeshi Taka (US$7,300) to purchase food and other necessities for distribution in cooperation with the government and their partner organization. (Muslim Aid, Nov. 16)

 

Oxfam In advance of the cyclone, around 1,000 volunteers from Oxfam’s partner organizations in Bangladesh helped evacuate villagers whose homes were in the path of the storm. We now have teams on the ground and are coordinating closely with our partner organizations and the government of Bangladesh to ensure that Oxfam resources are directed to where they are most needed. Our immediate focus will be helping more than 80,000 people in the hard-hit districts of Daerhat, Pirojpur, Barguna and Patuakhali meet their basic needs for food, water, shelter, and sanitation. (Oxfam, Nov. 19)

 

Oxfam Australia has contributed AUD$100,000 to the relief effort. Oxfam assessment teams say immediate needs include food, shelter, clothes and water and sanitation facilities. (Oxfam, Nov. 20)

 

Plan Bangladesh and one of its partner NGO Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) left Dhaka Friday (November 16) to start immediate emergency relief operation. Dry food, medicines, drinking water, plastic sheets, and cooked food is provided for 1,000 households for the next three days and stand by medical team to provide health treatment in those areas. The areas are Patharghata, Amtali, Barguna, Galachipa and Kalapara of Patuakhali and Barguna districts. (Plan Bangladesh, Nov. 17)

 

Save the Children launched an appeal Monday for funds to aid children and families affected by the storm. (Save the Children, Nov. 19) Save the Children started distributing 10,000 emergency non-food items, such as plastic sheeting, water containers, rope, soap, etc., on Friday. Additionally, 1,500 blankets and 10,000 water tablets were dispatches to the affected area, and 19 teams were deployed to assess damage and needs. Save the Children has been working in Bangladesh since 1972, and assisted with relief and recovery efforts following the monsoon flooding in June and July. (Save the Children Alliance, Nov. 16) On Saturday, Save the Children appealed to the US public to support its efforts to assist affected children and families and expressed concern about lack of access to clean water possibly causing outbreaks of cholera and severe diarrhea. (CNN Nov. 18)

 

Trocaire on Monday pledged US$146,590 (100,000 Euros) in relief aid to victims of the storm. (Trocaire, Nov. 19)

 

World Concern is providing food, water, medicine and shelter to impoverished families in crisis in the wake of Thursday’s killer cyclone. World Concern’s staff in Bangladesh, where it provides programs to more than 270,000 people, is working to assess the disaster and provide aid. (WC, Nov. 19)

 

World Vision (WV) had deployed 135 staff members and 7,000 volunteers to provide food, shelter and other relief to an initial 100,000, as of Sunday. WV is appealing for $1.5 million in further funds to assist about 9,300 families in rebuilding their homes. (CNN, Nov. 18) WV Bangladesh is planning to provide 20,000 families with 7-day item packs that include rice, sugar, salt, candles, blankets and mattresses valued at US$32 per family. (WV, Nov.16)

 

 

Foreign Governments:

 

Australia has pledged US$2.7 million. (OCHA, Nov. 20)

 

Belgium will give food aid totaling 2 million USD (roughly 1.4 million EUR) to Bangladesh to assist 200,000 people, mainly small farmers. (GoB, Nov. 20)

 

Canada is providing up to US$ 3 million. US$250,000 has already been contributed to the IFRC. (Canada, Nov. 19)

 

China: Donating US$1 million. US$50,000 given on behalf of Chinese Red Cross to Bangladeshi Red Cross. (RCSC, Nov. 20)

 

Czech Republic is allocating 1.5 million CZK (US$82,000). (Czech Government, Nov. 19)

 

European Commission Monday announced its second commitment of aid, in the amount of US$7.3 million (5 million Euros) for the storm’s victims. (European Commission, Nov. 19) Monday’s commitment came in addition to the US$ 2.2 million (1.5 million pounds) it released in fast-track aid Friday for those affected by the storm.

 

European Union (EU) has given 1.5 million Euros (US$2.2 million) in aid. (Reuters, Nov. 17)

 

France has pledged about US$730,000 and is also mobilizing an assessment team due to arrive in Bangladesh on Wednesday (November 21). (UNOCHA, Nov. 19)

 

Germany has increased its aid to US$1.46 million which will be channeled to German aid agencies who will work with local partners. (Government of Germany, Nov. 19)

 

India will provide a relief package worth some US$1 million which includes medicine, food items, milk powder, tents, blankets and other relief items. (Government of India, Nov. 19)

 

Ireland will make up to 500,000 Euros (US$732,000) in assistance available through Irish Aid. (Government of Ireland, Nov. 16)

 

Italy is sending a special flight carrying blankets, tents, health supplies, medicines, and drinking water. The flight will also carry experts from the Italian Cooperation who will help handle the distribution of aid. (Government of Italy, Nov. 19)

 

Japan will provide emergency supplies worth 35 million yen (US$319,000) in response to a request from the Bangladeshi government. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is shipping tents, blankets, sleeping mats, plastic sheeting, portable reservoirs, water purifying equipment, plastic water containers, and electric power generators from its warehouse in Singapore to Dhaka. (JICA, Nov. 20) Japan will also provide food assistance and will work with the WFP-led cyclone rehabilitation program. (The Daily Star, Nov. 19)

 

Kuwait: is donating US$10 million to Bangladesh. (KNA, Nov. 20)

 

Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is appealing to its member states to provide Bangladesh with assistance. (OIC, Nov. 18)

 

The Philippines has said it will dispatch a medical team to Bangladesh. (AP, Nov. 19)

 

Saudi Arabia on Monday announced that it was contributing an additional US$100 million in aid for cyclone victims and would airlift 300 tons of food and relief materials in the coming days. (Reuters, Nov. 19) Monday’s commitment was in addition to the funds provided Thursday for the Bangladeshi Disaster Management Information Center to purchase and distribute 7,060 tents and 3,000 bags of food.

 

Spain was sending 750,000 Euros (US$1.1 million) in aid through the Spanish Foreign Ministry’s aid arm, AECI (Spanish Agency of International Cooperation). (Reuters, Nov. 17)

 

Sweden: the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, has decided to give SEK5 million (US$800,000) to Save the Children and SEK2 million (US$319,000) to UNICEF. SEK10 million (US$1,594,000) to the Swedish Red Cross has been reserved to support humanitarian relief efforts. (SIDA, Nov. 20)

 

Switzerland: The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has released CHF 200,000 (US$179,000) in emergency relief funds. (SDC, Nov. 19)

 

United Kingdom: The Department for International Development (DFID) has announced a contribution of £2.5 million (US$5,169,000) for immediate cyclone relief efforts. The money is being channeled through the UN, and will help provide food, water, medical treatment, and housing repairs.

 

United States (US) A five member USAID/OFDA assessment team arrived in Bangladesh. The team is working with USAID/ Bangladesh, US Embassy in Dhaka, US DOD, NGOs, and the GoB to assess extent of damage, and coordinate USG efforts. USAID/OFDA is providing more than US$2.3 million. Total USAID assistance to Bangladesh in FY 2008: US$2,352,215. USAID/OFDA airlifting relief from Dubai. Emergency relief supplies expected to arrive in Dhaka on Tuesday (Nov. 20) and will benefit 15,000 people. (USAID, Nov. 20) President George W. Bush pledged $2.1 million for emergency aid to Bangladesh on Saturday as an “initial contribution.” Two Naval amphibious assault ships, the USS Essex and USS Kearsarge, were en route Monday to Bangladesh to assist in relief operations if requested. The ships are hospital-equipped and each contains at least 20 helicopters and tons of supplies. (AP, Nov. 19) Bush also said USAID will airlift 35 tons of plastic sheeting, jerry cans, hygiene kits and other non-food supplies to the country. An 18-person medical team from the US Department of Defense is in Bangladesh and helping with local medical needs. (CNN Nov. 18) The US Mission in Bangladesh pre-positioned required supplies and equipment. Sixteen zodiac boats were ready to use for emergency operations. Six water treatment systems were mobilized. Ten water ambulances were available. With partners CARE and Save the Children, 30,000 Emergency Survival Packages were pre-positioned in vulnerable areas before the cyclone hit. (US State Department, Nov. 16) Two US Marine Corps C-130 aircraft arrived in Dhaka Sunday night with medical supplies. (Reuters, Nov. 19) US Defense Secretary Robert Gates was expected to approve plans to send up to three Marine Corps amphibious warships, with up to 3,500 Marines, to locations off the coast of Bangladesh to assist in relief efforts. The USS Wasp is expected to move from the Gulf of Oman. The USS Tarawa recently left Hawaii, and could possibly go to Bangladesh as well. (CNN, Nov. 17)