Period covered by this update: 18 October to 22 November 2012
Summary: CHF 292,693 was allocated from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC)’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 17 October 2012 to support Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) to deliver assistance to 25,000 beneficiaries. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.
A heavy tropical storm hit some remote islands of three different coastal districts of Bangladesh at 2200 hours of 10 October 2012. The affected districts are Noakhali, Bhola and Chittagong. BDRCS quickly responded to the disaster and volunteers from e Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) took part on the search and rescue. BDRCS’s district units coordinated with the local administration to distribute dry food (pressed rice and molasses). During this reporting period BDRCS distributed dry food for 2,600 families, tarpaulin for 4,500 families, water jerry cane for 4,000 families and cash grant for 4,500 families.
This operation is expected to be implemented over four months, and will therefore be completed by February 2013. A final report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by May 2013). The major donors to the DREF are the Irish, Italian, Netherlands and Norwegian governments and ECHO.
The situation
As of 22 October 2012, Disaster Management Information Cell (DMIC) of Bangladesh Government reported:
Approximate 25,875 households have been affected by the storm in Noakhali, Bhola and Chittagong districts. Out of these, 8,015 households are “fully affected” and 17,860 households are “partially affected”.
A total of 36 deaths, 183 injured and 72 missing.
Approximate total of 24,380 shelters have been damaged, out of which 8,050 shelters are fully damaged and 16,330 are partially damaged.
The high number of destroyed and damaged houses indicated that shelters were been severely affected. It is unlikely that the households affected has adequate the financial resources to purchase materials to rebuild their houses. This is particularly the case in Monpura and Charfassion. Therefore, shelter needs is a priority. In storm affected places, farming and fishing are the two main livelihoods though crops are not inundated; approximately 36,959 acres of productive lands are damaged. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE, Date 19/10/12), the storm didn’t significantly impact the rice culture; the impact has been on the vegetable crop.
The fishing sector has been affected more than the agriculture sector with losses of assets: boats, nets and some fish farming ponds. At least 22 out of the 36 deaths were fishermen. The cyclone occurred five weeks before the harvesting period.
The affected areas are mainly composed of remote islands, making accessibility challenging. This is a major factor in response mapping.
Protection/Gender Based Violence (GBV) potentially could be issue for women and children especially in remote islands. This is particularly true considering the modality of cash distributions which have been seen to make recipients vulnerable in some cases.
The Government of Bangladesh already responded with food distribution for 12560 households providing 30kg of rice for each family. Government is also continuing Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) scheme with a package of 30kg rice per households per month for 12,503 households. This VGF programme is planned for three months. Government has also provided cash of BDT 25, 000/ family that lost a primary bread-winner due to the storm and started a shelter grant scheme with a package of corrugated galvanised iron (CGI) sheet and BDT 500 for 5,000 families. Save the Children, Oxfam, Muslim aid and Islamic Relief has also responded in distributing non food items (NFIs) for the affected people.
BDRCS supported through IFRC distributed NFIs (emergency shelter materials, water jerry cans) and dry food to 3,000 families in three districts. NFIs were dispatched from BDRCS/IFRC joint disaster preparedness stock with provision of replenishment through the DREF mechanism. BDRCS initiated cash distribution of food to 5,000 families through the DREF support. These 5,000 includes the 3,000 households that received NFIs in the initial stage. Each 5,000 household is receiving BDT 2,000 cash. Those who did not receive emergency shelter materials will receive one tarpaulin.
Meanwhile, in complimenting emergency shelter component, Oxfam has supported some 2,000 households in terms of WatSan in Noakhali district. However based on the multisectoral review supported by the Assessment of Capacities Project (ACAPS) carried out on 5 November 2012, there was no significant issues to be addressed for WatSan component within the affected communities.