Cyclone Sidr Factsheet GCSE Geography

Bangladesh – Cyclone -  Fact Sheet

NUMBERS AT A GLANCE* SOURCE – 27^th Nov 2007 (12 days later)

The situation

On November 15, Tropical Cyclone Sidr made landfall in southern Bangladesh with winds of 155 miles per hour. On November 16, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Geeta Pasi declared a disaster due to the effects of the cyclone. A USAID/DART arrived in Bangladesh on November 17 and 18. Additional USAID/DART staff will arrive between November 22 and 25.

Total Affected Population: 2,997 dead, 1,724 missing, 6,770,456 affected

Houses Damaged or Destroyed: 1,178,974 houses damaged or destroyed

US aid provision $4,042,635

CURRENT SITUATION

• Relief agencies reported that immediate needs vary in affected areas. While food and safe drinking water are some of the most pressing humanitarian needs for cyclone-affected families along the coastal districts and sandbar islands, communities further inland need agricultural recovery and livelihoods assistance, particularly in agricultural production and the fishing industry.

•Food Security  According to the U.N., the cyclone affected more than 1.6 million acres of agricultural lands. The U.N. also reported that the cyclone disrupted the access to food markets, affecting local food security,  coupled with the high prices of fuel on the international market, is impacting the livelihoods of affected populations.

• In response, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) has committed 171 MT of high energy biscuits to Save the Children for distribution to cyclone-affected areas. for women and children under two years of age. Also distributed $740,000 of Food Aid commodities in Bangladesh, including wheat, vegetable oil, and pulses.

· Shelter and Settlements:  According to the GOB’s Disaster Management Bureau, Tropical Cyclone Sidr damaged or destroyed approximately 1.2 million houses. On November 20, emergency relief supplies included including 300 rolls of plastic sheeting, 5,000 blankets, 2,500 hygiene kits, and 2,500 water containers for affected communities.

• WASH :According to the U.N., debris and salinity have polluted safe drinking water sources. Airlifti four additional water treatment units and four 10,000-liter water bladders. The emergency relief supplies are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on November 27. Allocated 1,000 water purifying filters to affected communities in Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali, and Pirojpur districts.

Cyclone Relief Programs

distributing $740,000 of P.L. 480 Title II Food Aid commodities in Bangladesh, including wheat, vegetable oil, and pulses.

• The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is also assisting with relief efforts in Bangladesh. An 18-person DOD medical team from U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) was in Bangladesh prior to the cyclone, and is now assisting with relief efforts. PACOM also deployed a 23-member HAST team that traveled to affected areas to determine scope and duration of support. The U.S. Navy ship U.S.S. Kearsarge has arrived in Bangladesh.

Preparedness and Mitigation Programs

• According to OCHA, the GOB’s early warning and preparedness systems greatly reduced the humanitarian impact of Cyclone Sidr. Approximately 3.2 million people were evacuated and supplies were stockpiled, OCHA reported.

• USAID has a longstanding commitment of investing in preparedness and mitigation programs in Bangladesh. In close coordination with the GOB, these programs have minimized the loss of life and damage from the recent cyclone and countless other disasters. USAID programs include the construction and maintenance of multi-purpose flood and cyclone shelters as well as wave protection walls and earthen embankments to reduce flood damage. In addition to building nearly 4,000 physical mitigation structures since 2005, USAID trained local disaster management committees to oversee emergency response and provided cyclone preparedness training programs for coastal areas.

• Over the past decade, two USAID/OFDA programs have worked to reduce the effects of flooding in Bangladesh. The Emergency Working Group of Cooperative Sponsors has promoted coordination between communities and local authorities and supported the operation of mobile water purification plants and a mobile health unit. In addition, USAID/OFDA has supported community flood monitoring and forecasting to mitigate damage in flood plains.

Bangladesh Cyclone – November 23, 2007

• USAID-funded disaster preparedness mechanisms already in-country before the storm include 16 zodiac boats, 6 water treatment systems, and 10 water ambulances used for emergency operations. USAID partners CARE and SC/US pre-positioned 30,000 emergency survival packages, as well as food stockpiles, to facilitate distribution after the storm passed.

• Through regional preparedness programs, USAID/OFDA has contributed to strengthen emergency response capacity in Bangladesh. The Program for Enhancement of Emergency Response has developed national and regional cadres of professional emergency response instructors. The Asia Flood Network has strengthened the capacity of regional and national hydrometeorological institutions in forecasting while directly involving communities at risk in reducing vulnerability to hydrometeorological hazards. The Program for Hydrometeorological Risk Mitigation in Asian Cities has carried out hazard mapping and vulnerability assessments and established community-based early warning mechanisms in highly vulnerable urban centers, including Chittagong.

USAID HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO BANGLADESH IN FY 2008

FY 2008

Implementing Partner

Activity

Location

Amount

USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE1

CARE

Emergency Relief Activities

Affected Areas

$30,000

CARE and SC/US

Emergency Relief Supplies

Affected Areas

$252,175

IFRC

Shelter, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Affected Areas

$1,000,000

Multiple NGO Partners

Emergency Relief Activities

Affected Areas

$1,000,000

Multiple NGO Partners

Emergency Relief Supplies

Affected Areas

$303,160

SC/US

Emergency Relief Activities

Affected Areas

$70,000

Administrative Support

Affected Areas

$147,300

DOD

Transportation of Emergency Relief Supplies

Affected Areas

$500,000

TOTAL USAID/OFDA

$3,302,635

USAID/FFP ASSISTANCE

CARE

P.L. 480 Title II Food Aid

Affected Areas

$740,000

TOTAL USAID HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO BANGLADESH IN FY 2008

$4,042,635

1 USAID/OFDA funding represents anticipated or actual obligated amounts as of November 23, 2007.

PUBLIC DONATION INFORMATION

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The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for the cyclone response efforts in Bangladesh can be found at www.interaction.org.

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USAID encourages cash donations because they allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such as transportation routes, staff time, warehouse space, etc.); can be transferred very quickly and without transportation costs; support the economy of the disaster-stricken region; and ensure culturally, dietary, and environmentally appropriate assistance.

More information can be found at:

o USAID: www.usaid.gov – Keyword: Donations

o The Center for International Disaster Information: www.cidi.org or (703) 276-1914

o Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be found at www.reliefweb.int

USAID/OFDA bulletins appear on the USAID web site at http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/