Cyclone Sidr Update

December 3, 2007

 

 

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

 

Current Status

 

The Government of Bangladesh’s (GoB’s) Ministry of Food and Disaster Management’s Information Center (DMIC) said Monday (December 3) that at least 3,292 people have died as a result of Tropical Cyclone Sidr, which struck the southern coast of Bangladesh as a category four (five is the highest) storm at 20:30 local time on November 15 and affected some 8.7 million people (2 million families). According to DMIC, 52,808 people were injured and 871 people are still missing. Originating in the Bay of Bengal, Sidr struck the southwestern coast of Bangladesh on November 15 packing winds between 87 and 103 mph (140 and 165 kph). The storm had a radius of 311 miles (500 km) with winds in the eye up to 150 mph (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. Sidr had dissipated by late November 16. The Bangladeshi Armed Forces Division (AFD) has estimated that Cyclone Sidr cost US$2.31 billion in economic losses, including infrastructure, schools, crops and livestock. (Xinhua, Nov. 26) Sidr was the strongest cyclone to hit Bangladesh since a 1991 storm killed some 143,000 people in the country. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team remains stood down.

The GoB officially requested international aid on November 20 and so far has reportedly received pledges of more than US$510 million, including up to US$250 million from the World Bank. In total, the UN has pledged some US$35 million, of which the UN’s Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) has contributed about US$15 million. Among the foreign governments offering the largest donations are Saudi Arabia (US$100 million), India (US$25.3 million), the US (US$19.5 million), Japan (US$15.5 million), the United Kingdom (US$14.4 million) and the European Commission (US$9.5 million). As of Saturday (December 1), OCHA’s Financial Tracking System has recorded received contributions and pledges in the amount of US$143,505,124. (OCHA, Dec. 1)

The US military continues to assist the AFD in distributing relief goods, including drinking water, to remote locations. The USS Tarawa should replace the USS Kearsarge within two to three days. The Tarawa has similar operating capacity to the Kearsarge, which has been anchored off Chittagong port since November 22. (PTI, Dec. 3) As of November 29, the Kearsarge had delivered more than 12,000 gallons of water by helicopter to remote coastal areas. (The New Nation, Dec. 3)

The head of Bangladesh’s interim government appealed Monday for US$700 million from foreign aid donors to rebuild coastal areas. Speaking to a meeting of foreign diplomats and donor representatives, Fakhruddin Ahmed said an estimated US$250 million was needed for rebuilding coastal embankments, US$150 million for reforestation, US$200 million for building cyclone shelters and US$100 million for rebuilding schools. Ahmed said climate change was worsening the impact of natural disasters in Bangladesh and world leaders needed to respond accordingly. “An internationally created problem like climate change demands an internationally supported suitable solution for those worst affected, as in Bangladesh,” Reuters quoted him as saying. (Reuters, Dec. 3)

 

The governor of Bangladesh’s national bank, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, said Sunday (December 2) that national bank branches plan to disburse US$190 million (13 billion taka) in easy-term loans to farmers, fishermen, timber traders, small businesses and individuals needing housing in affected areas. “Do whatever you can to rejuvenate the economic activities,” The New Nation quoted him as telling bankers at a meeting Sunday. Ahmed said branches have been directed to disburse at least 70 percent of the target amount in December and January so that people can have relief in a timely manner. (The New Nation, Dec. 3)

 

The US Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) recently completed a three-day shelter and livelihoods field assessment in Bagerhat and Pirojpur districts and determined that affected families still identify shelter, cash and livelihoods support – including food – as their greatest needs. World Vision is among the agencies distributing timber, CI sheeting and tools to repair an estimated 200,000 damaged shelters. Many families have salvaged materials from their previous homes and are preparing to rebuild, but many will need cash to pay skilled laborers to do the construction. Loss of assets like boats, nets, seeds and related equipment are preventing people from resuming their livelihoods and, according to the assessment, replacing those items should be a top priority. The DART’s report applauded relief coordination at the local level and determined that there are significant numbers of grassroots organizations and local NGOs on the ground distributing household items, clothing and food. (USAID/OFDA, Dec. 3)

 

Another USAID DART assessed the water, sanitation and hygiene situation in Barisal, Patuakhali, Khulna and Barguna districts from November 28 to December 2 and determined that although the GoB was meeting people’s immediate food and water needs in central, accessible areas, it is falling short in remote areas. According to the assessment, GoB needs to immediately provide higher-quantity regular food distribution, continued water purification assistance and provision of clothing and cooking utensils, seeds, tools and livelihood assets and cash assistance to remote areas, especially along the Bhola River in Khulna district and in the coastal areas and southern islands that are only accessible by boat. (USAID/DART, Dec. 3)

 

The water, sanitation and hygiene cluster, led by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), finished a week-long survey of five affected districts Saturday (December 1) and made recommendations to the Bangladeshi Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) regarding the need for short-term temporary bulk water supply. Although the assessment found that in some areas, urgent needs for water had already been satisfied, the cluster says the need for these systems may last around three months, although it will be difficult to judge when water availability has returned to pre-cyclone levels because some areas were already facing shortages before the storm. The DPHE has begun water trucking operations in many areas. (UNICEF, Dec. 3)

 

 

Impact

 

According to DMIC, the death toll as of Monday (December 3) was 3,292. (DMIC, Dec. 3) Bangladeshi army chief Gen. Moeen U Ahmed has said the toll could end up around 5,000, while the Bangladeshi Red Crescent Society has said it could reach 10,000. (CNN, Nov. 21) The DMIC says 871 people are still missing and 52,808 were injured in the storm. (DMIC, Nov. 30)

 

DMIC says the storm affected a total of 8,669,789 people, including 2,000,848 families, and damaged or destroyed 1,503,552 houses. (DMIC, Dec. 3) Thirty percent of the houses in Barisal and Khulna divisions were destroyed. (USAID, Nov. 28) UNICEF says nearly half of those affected by the disaster were children and about 400,000 of them were under the age of five. (The New Nation, Nov. 21)

 

The UN’s Rapid Initial Assessment Report, released November 22, said about 4.7 million people were affected in the districts of Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barguna, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira. Of those, an estimated 2.1 million need immediate life-saving food assistance. Food, shelter and cash were found to be the three highest priority areas for assistance. Sanitation, drinking water, medical supplies and communications and transportation restoration are listed as other high-priority needs in descending order. (UN, Nov. 22) According to the DMIC, at least 1,271 people were killed in Barguna district and at least 785 died in Bagerhat. (DMIC, Dec. 3)

 

More than 14,500 educational institutions were damaged or destroyed. (DMIC, Nov. 29) The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said November 23 that about 1 million primary school-age children were affected by Sidr and of them, 600,000 were not in class. Some remaining school buildings have been turned into emergency shelters. (UNICEF, Nov. 24)

 

Diarrhea outbreaks remain a major concern. The International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research-Bangladesh (ICDDR-B) reported that its Dhaka hospital has seen an increase in patient numbers each day since Sidr hit and on Saturday (December 1) it admitted 423 patients, most suffering from severe dehydration. (ICDDR-B, Dec. 2) Officials report no significant disease developments so far, but the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday (November 30) that Bangladesh is at a higher risk of communicable disease outbreaks because of the interruption of safe water and sanitation facilities, population displacement and overcrowding, malnutrition, proliferation of vector breeding sites and poor access to health services. (WHO, Nov. 30) Water sources have become contaminated as corpses of cyclone victims, cattle and wild animals float in rivers and canals. Tube wells in most areas have been twisted by the cyclone, according to WHO. (The New Nation, Nov. 22)

 

The AFD has estimated that Cyclone Sidr cost US$2.31 billion in economic losses, including infrastructure, schools, crops and livestock. (Xinhua, Nov. 26) GoB’s agriculture adviser CS Karim said Sunday (December 2) that Sidr destroyed a total of some 553,000 hectares of crops worth some 20 billion taka (US$290 million). Of the total, some 800,000 tons of rice were destroyed. Karim said that the country faces a shortfall of 3.1 million metric tons of rice and other foodgrains to meet domestic demand in the year ending June 2008 as the cyclone followed damage to rice and other crops from floods in July and August. To fill the gap, the GoB plans to import one million tons of rice on top of 1.1 million already imported and allow private companies to import 900,000 tons. (Reuters, The News, New Nation, Dec. 2) DMIC continues to report total crop loss of about 2.1 million acres (840,624 hectares). (DMIC, Dec. 3) Rice is Bangladesh’s staple food and most important crop, with an average annual production of 27 million tons grown in three seasons: Aus, Aman and Boro. In a report, Oxford Analytica said the local retail price of rice has already increased 15 percent. At least 1,684,292 livestock have been reported dead so far. (DMIC, Dec. 3) Livestock losses amounted to about US$44 million. (Oxford Analytica, Nov. 30) About 1,065 miles (1,714 km) of road have been heavily damaged and 3,579 miles (5,760 km) partly damaged. Around 1,687 bridges and culverts were damaged. (DMIC, Dec. 3) The extensive damage to infrastructure and crops will cause widespread problems in the future as it has wiped out the source of so many people’s livelihoods. The cyclone caused at least US$4 million in damage to Bangladesh’s important fishing industry and an estimated US$35.7 million to the shrimp industry. (Xinhua, Nov. 23) The ADB has said that Bangladesh already suffered US$1.4 billion in losses from this year’s monsoon flood season. (The New Nation, Nov. 28)

 

At least 590 square miles (1,528 square km) – or one-quarter - of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, are thought to be destroyed and could take 40 years to recover. The loss could have “dire implications” for forest wildlife, including the Bengal tiger and rare species of deer and crocodiles. GoB officials plan to do a full-scale assessment of damage. (BBC, Nov. 30) Officials say Sidr inflicted more than US$146.1 million (10 billion taka) worth of damage to forest resources and another US$2.9 million (200 million taka) in lost infrastructure in the forest. (The Daily Star, Nov. 30)

 

Although the storm and the subsequent surge cut off power, phone communication and roadways around the country, the GoB said November 22 that road communications had been nearly fully restored. Power is back in most areas. (The Daily Star, Nov. 22)

 

 

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 geographic 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. Divided into three zones of hills, terraces and a large flood plain, Bangladesh’s geography is uniquely low-lying because its coastal line forms part of the basins of three major rivers, the Padma (Ganges), Brahmaputra and Meghna.

 

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.

 

 

Government Response

 

The head of Bangladesh’s caretaker government, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, has said the government will allocate US$13.1 million (900 million taka) to assist victims of Cyclone Sidr (The Daily Star, Nov. 28), but on Monday (December 3), DMIC was still reporting that GoB had allocated about US$7.4 million through its Relief and Welfare Fund for Sidr victims. In addition, it has allocated 16,890 metric tons of rice, distributed 27,000 food bags, 26,700 blankets, about 16,454 tents, 3,348 utensils and 13,000 bundles of corrugated iron sheeting. (DMIC, Dec. 2) The Armed Forces Division (AFD), which is coordinating relief operations, continues to transport relief items by plane, helicopters and boats and has established three relief receiving cells at the Directorate of Relief and Rehabilitation, Dhaka Zila Parishad and the Regional Public Administration Center. (DMIC, Nov. 28) The Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM) has opened a Cyclone SIDR Coordination Cell in Barisal district. The Navy has established two “focal points” in Barisal and Bongla districts for more effective transportation of relief materials to remote areas. (The Daily Star, Nov. 22)

Ahmed appealed Monday for US$700 million from foreign aid donors to rebuild coastal areas. The appeal includes US$250 million for rebuilding coastal embankments, US$150 million for coastal reforestation, US$200 million for building cyclone shelters and US$100 million for rebuilding schools. (Reuters, Dec. 3)

 

The GoB has also allocated a special fund of US$9.6 million (650 million taka) for long-term housing construction. (The New Nation, Nov. 30) The GoB’s compensation plan allots US$44 (3,000 taka) to families with damaged homes, US$73 (5,000 taka) to those with destroyed homes, and US$146 (10,000 taka) to those who have had a family member die. In Pirojpur district alone, US$950,000 (64.5 million taka) has already been distributed through the plan. Aid workers are concerned that compensation could be used as a political tool instead of being targeted at those most in need. (USAID/OFDA, Dec. 3)

 

On Monday (December 3), US Air Force and Marines were scheduled to assist the AFD by operating 12 sorties, delivering items including food, blankets, shelters, clothing and water purification tablets. (DMIC, Dec. 3)

 

The Department of Public Health and Engineering has been coordinating local water cleaning efforts. DPHE has provided 3.5 million water purification tablets, a sufficient amount for 125,000 people for two weeks. DPHE plans to distribute an additional 1.5 million tablets. Water treatment plants have been established by GoB, the US military, UN agencies and NGOs around the country. Two ponds have been cleaned and 12 ringwells established in Dublarchar. Water is being supplied in Khulna division by 38 high-density plastic mobile tanks with 500-liter capacity. Nine of 10 water treatment plants are functioning. The remaining plant, in Jhalokathi district, is being repaired. In Patuakhali, DPHE has cleaned 133 ponds. In Gopalganj, Madaripur and Shariatpur, 156 ponds have been cleaned. (DMIC, Dec. 3)

 

MoFDM Secretary Dr. Mohammad Aiyub Mia announced an MoFDM allocation of US$146,134 (10 million taka) for supplying foods suitable for mothers and babies, as well as a long-term US$30.1 million (206.3 million taka) project for building small culverts on rural roads in 12 districts. (The New Nation, Nov. 30)

 

Under the Bangladeshi Department of Health, 18 senior consultants, nine pediatricians, 93 interns, 100 nurses and nine orthopedic surgeons are operating in affected areas. There is one health department medical team consisting of six doctors with different medical specialties (general medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, anesthesia and orthopedics) operating in each of six districts. A total of 1,193 government doctors are serving patients in the affected areas. (DMIC, Nov. 29) The Health Department has opened a special desk to monitor diarrhea outbreaks.

 

Bangladeshi Naval Chief Vice Admiral Sarwar Zahan Nizam said November 29 that assistance had reached 95 percent of affected areas. (The New Nation, Nov. 29)

 

On November 28, the Power Division asked the Finance Ministry for about US$1 million (70 million taka) to repair power installations around the country. (Xinhua, Nov. 28) The Rural Electrification Board has yet to restore power to nine districts in Barisal division. (The New Nation, Nov. 28)

 

The Disaster Emergency Response (DER), composed of UN, NGO and GoB officials, has established six relief clusters and appointed agencies to lead each. For further information regarding clusters, please see www.lcgbangladesh.org/derweb/cyclone_updates.php.

 

The GoB called for international aid on November 20 and so far has reportedly received pledges of more than US$510 million in aid from foreign governments, UN agencies and NGOs. Although still seeking donations, the GoB said November 28 that it had ruled out the possibility of a food crisis or famine, saying that with international donations it would have enough food to feed people until the next rice harvest in the spring, and that the European Commission had offered support in case of any food shortfall. (The Daily Star, Nov. 29) The GoB has told donors that it needs at least 500,000 metric tons of food grains in assistance to make up for a cyclone-caused national food shortage that is expected to last through April 2008. Donors are asked to procure food donations from the international market in order to avert a further shortage in the domestic market. (The Daily Star, Nov. 28) Food Ministry sources say the government needs at least 1.1 million MT of food in total for its relief programs over the next several months. The GoB currently has a food grain stock of 737,000 MT, of which 200,000 are being immediately released to cyclone-affected areas. (The Daily Star, Nov. 28)

 

Chief of Army Gen. Moeen U Ahmed said November 29 that the GoB planned to bring all cyclone-affected people along the southwest coastline into its Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) program, which was scheduled to begin December 1, but has been delayed because the list of entitled people has not been completed. The program will provide up to 33 lbs. (15 kg) of rice per month for at least four months. GoB had originally said it would give VGF cards to 2.6 million affected families. (The New Nation, Nov. 30) So far, the GoB has allocated 150,233 metric tons of food items and US$227,795 (15,596,331 taka) for the VGF. (DMIC, Nov. 26)

 

From December 2007 to March 2008, relief priorities will include home-building assistance, continued food support and preventing epidemics. In the months after March 2008, the focus will be on rehabilitation of the Sundarban forest, reconstruction, building cyclone shelters, improving the early warning system and expanding the disaster information network. (DMIC, Nov. 22)

 

The GoB has said it will create a Finance Ministry soft-credit fund of US$19 million (1.3 billion taka) to make loans to small traders, fishermen and farmers affected by Sidr. (The Daily Star, Nov. 26)

 

The AFD donated US$73,120 (5 million taka) to the Chief Adviser’s Relief and Welfare Fund to assist cyclone victims Sunday. (The New Nation, Dec. 3)

 

On Saturday, the GoB announced that it allocated US$7,272 (500,000 taka) to the relief and coordination cell in Barisal for rescue and relief operations. (DMIC, Dec. 1)

 

 

National Response

 

The Bangladeshi Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) has more than 2,500 staff engaged in relief efforts, which include the distribution of 184,049 food packages of lentils, energy biscuits, matches, 200 taka (US$2.92) and 10kg of rice to families accounting for 400,000 cyclone victims in 11 districts. (DMIC, Nov. 30) BRAC is also treating contaminated ponds and fixing about four damaged pond sand filters a day. (BRAC, Nov. 22) BRAC has 13 medical teams working in affected regions, including 116 total team members who had served 29,223 people as of November 25. (DMIC, Nov. 27)

 

The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BRCS) has about 42,000 volunteers working in coastal areas and with assistance from the IFRC has deployed four assessment teams and 12 mobile health teams, provided family packs of non-food items and 55 MT of food relief to 64,000 families in 15 affected districts, and distributed 42,000 water purification tables in four districts. (OCHA, Nov. 25) According to DMIC, BRCS has so far distributed US$840,000 worth of aid, including 10,200 blankets and at least US$95,587 (6.4 million Bangladesh taka). BRCS has appealed for about US$5.7 million in international assistance. (Xinhua, Nov. 26) IFRC has allocated CHF 250,000 (US$223,000) from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF).

 

Around 40 volunteers from the Kumarkhali Businessmen Forum will distribute some US$6,800 in relief goods in Bagerhat district. (New Nation, Dec. 2)

 

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) sent a second shipment of relief goods from the Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). BDR has sent some 16.5 tons of rice, clothing and other relief items to Barisal district. (New Nation, Dec. 2)

 

Shushilan has distributed kits to 25,000 families in two districts. It has also donated molasses and rice. (WFP, Nov. 27)

 

Proshika has a medical team and livestock recovery workers in nine districts working through hubs in Jhalokati and Tashika and has installed six water treatment plants. It has prepared a proposal for work in the areas of health, water and sanitation, food, shelter and livestock recovery. (WFP, Nov. 27) By November 29, Proshika had secured 3,500 MT of warehouse capacity in Jamalpur and Magura, but was having trouble obtaining local transportation for its deliveries. (WFP, Nov. 29)

 

 

International Response

 

The GoB has so far reportedly received offers of more than US$510 million in international emergency aid. According to the UNOCHA Financial Tracking System, the total amount of received contributions and confirmed pledges as of December 1 was US$143,505,124. (UNOCHA, Dec. 1)

 

Fakhruddin Ahmed, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, told a meeting of foreign diplomats and donor representatives Sunday that the GoB was seeking international aid worth some US$700 million for rebuilding and rehabilitation. (Reuters, Dec. 3)

 

United Nations

 

The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator released a total of US$14.7 million in Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) allocations. (OCHA, Nov. 30)

 

OCHA says the UN Country Team in conjunction with the GoB has been managing the six clusters that have been formed in support of the overall response and recovery plan: 1) Food (led by the WFP), 2) Water and sanitation (UNICEF), 3) Health (WHO), 4) Shelter (IFRC), 5) Logistics (WFP), and 6) Early Recovery (UNDP). (OCHA, Nov. 23)

 

According to the UN Rapid Initial Assessment Report, food, shelter and cash are identified as the three highest priority areas for assistance. Sanitation, drinking water, electricity, livelihood assistance and early recovery are also urgently needed. (OCHA, Nov. 30) The report is available at: http://www.cdmp.org.bd/publications/Cyclone_Sidr_UN_Rapid_Initial_Assessment_Report.pdf (DMIC, Nov. 22)

 

According to OCHA, a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team has been stood down. (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 kg of flattened rice and 1 kg of molasses per family for some 70,000 families in several districts. UNDP also plans to provide 240,000 packets of water purification powder or one week supply for each family through Bangladesh National Scouts (BNS). (DMIC, Nov-18)

 

UNICEF is appealing for US$29.2 million to support the needs of women and children. UNICEF says approximately half of the affected people are children and some 600,000 are under five years of age. An estimated 300,000 children under the age of five are living throughout the disaster zone in makeshift camps with their families and are surviving on meager food and water, without proper shelter or access to basic amenities. (UNICEF, Nov. 30) UNICEF says some 2.8 million will require long-term support and some 523,000 are in need of medicine and medical services. (UNICEF, Nov. 29) UNICEF is taking the lead of the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), cluster and also assisting the national response to nutrition, education, child protection, education and the provision of non-food items. Beyond clusters it is facilitating sectoral coordination among the development partners and the NGOs in four other areas: nutrition, education, protection - together with Save the Children - and emergency telecommunications. (UNICEF, Nov. 28) UNICEF and Save the Children are setting up “safe places” for child protection, which will also be used as temporary learning centers with the provision of School-in-a-Box Kits (UNOCHA, Nov. 24), as some 600,000 school-age children are currently not in class due to cyclone damage. (UNICEF, Nov. 23) Another concern for UNICEF was that children who have been separated from their families by the storm are especially vulnerable to being forced into human trafficking. (UNICEF, Nov. 30) Thirty child centers have been established to serve around 5,000 children in Patuakhali, Barguna and Priojpur districts. A total of 380 centers are planned in the coming weeks across nine cyclone-affected districts. (New Nation, Dec. 2) A stock of 7.3 million WPT (Water Purification Tablets) provided by UNICEF during the recent floods are available for immediate distribution. UNICEF is supplying 92 metric tons of BP5 biscuits to aid 15,400 children and 11,600 pregnant and lactating women in six districts. (UNICEF, Nov. 23) UNICEF, in conjunction with the WFP, Save the Children USA and local NGOs commenced a mass distribution of BP5 biscuits and family kits December 1 to children under the age of three and pregnant and lactating women in Patuakhali, Barguna, Barisal, Bagerhat, Pirojpur and Jhalokathi districts. This campaign will be followed by a distribution of blended foods from the WFP and the GoB. (UNICEF, Nov. 30)

 

The UN Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) met November 16 to assess the situation and strategize a joint UN response.

 

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said that it is sending a mission of experts to focus primarily on the Sundarbans mangrove forest, which was put on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. The 140,000-hectare forest is home to many endangered species, including the Bengal tiger. (UNNS, Nov. 27)

 

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will start a food and livelihoods assessment on December 3 to determine the impact on agricultural production, fisheries and forestry. (USAID, Nov. 26) FAO has established an emergency coordination and rehabilitation unit within the FAO Representation in Bangladesh. (AHN, FAO, Nov. 24, Nov. 30). The cyclone caused at least US$4 million in damage to Bangladesh’s important fishing industry and an estimated US$35.7 million to the shrimp industry. (Xinhua, Nov. 23) FAO is assisting 47,000 households with seeds and other agricultural inputs such as fishing nets and intends to support more than 100,000 families in livelihood rehabilitation. (OCHA, Nov. 23)

 

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) on November 29 announced a plan to provide emergency food aid to 2.2 million people over the next six months. The operation will follow the work of the UN Rapid Assessment Mission, which found 4.7 million people were affected in the worst districts, of which 2.2 million are in need of immediate food assistance. The WFP is appealing for some US$51.7 million for the Emergency Operation (EMOP) which will provide over 71,000 MT of food. (WFP, Nov. 29, Dec. 3) The WFP welcomed a US$5 million contribution for the EMOP from the US government. WFP representative Douglas Broderick says the agency will utilize the funds to distribute some 5,500 MT of rice and 1,100 MT of edible oil. (WFP, Dec. 3) Japan has also contributed US$1.5 million. WFP will use the funds to distribute some 1,400 MT of High Energy Biscuits (HEBs). The WFP has so far distributed over 300 MT of biscuits and 750 MT of rice to more than 1.2 million people. (WFP, Dec. 2) WFP’s 6-month EMOP will distribute 20,000 MT of commodities a month. WFP chaired the first meeting of the interagency logistics response team (LRT). USAID says the LRT is functioning as the logistics