SAVE THE CHILDREN ALLIANCE
SITREP # 10- 26 NOVEMBER 2007
BANGLADESH CYCLONE SIDR

I. Save the Children Response Overview
To date, Save the Children has provided emergency relief to more 130,000 families affected by cyclone Sidr, which struck the southern coast of Bangladesh on November 15, 2007.

We are working in eight districts of Barisal and Khulna divisions along the southern coast of Bangladesh (please see appendix A for details on distributions in each district). The agency has opened 42 child friendly spaces benefiting 4,500 children and is conducting health activities in partnership with local NGOs, community volunteers and the government health department.

To date, Save the Children has distributed at least:

• Family food packs to 9,050 families

• Household items to 9,600 families

• High energy biscuits to 190,520 families

• Blankets to 7,668 families

• Water to 13,950 families

• Halo tabs for water purification to 9,332 families

• 28,000 oral rehydration solution packets

II. Situation Update

Save the Children staff in Barguna district (Barisal division) report that a large number of people from remote villages where aid has not reached are gathering near the main highway to ask for relief. They report entire villages being washed away with residents scattered by the floods and large numbers of people injured and missing. This indicates that there are a large number of people still in need of assistance.

The Government of Bangladesh announced that it will provide food assistance (15 kg of rice per family per month) to 2,590,000 people in 12 districts beginning on the first of December.

Government of Bangladesh (GoB) official estimates of cyclone Sidr damages stand at 6.7 million people affected with a death toll of 3,033 people, a further 1,828 missing and 34,511 injured. Over 363,346 homes were destroyed and a further 815,628 houses were partially damaged. More than 1.6 million acres of crops are damaged and over 462,815 livestock (a critical household asset) were killed. Extensive damage to roads and public buildings was reported, including 1,355 educational institutions destroyed and another 7,847 partially damaged.

Early recovery, logistics and information management meetings were held in Dhaka today.

III. Response by Sector

21 teams of Save the Children staff (about three people per team) are conducting assessments in 21 unions with a focus on Barguna and Patuakhali districts.

Food and NFIs
Distribution of 5,000 OFDA-supported “family food packs” (rice, lentils, cooking oil, salt and potato) was completed today. Save the Children is continuing to distribute rice provided by WFP as well as pulses and vegetable oil normally used for regular development programs in Barisal district. A contract is being negotiated with WFP to distribute 23,000 metric tons of food in January and February.

Field teams are currently finalizing items for shelter kit contents and are considering including wooden poles and corrugated iron sheets.

Water and Sanitation

Save the Children moved two water plants from Bhola and Jalakhathi districts to more affected areas in Barguna and Pathuakhali districts. An additional water plant has been installed in Barguna district. As of November 25, the plants have provided a total of 61,500 liters of water to 5,727 families. An additional four water plants are expected soon. A partner organization, Muslim Aid, is providing drinking water at a safe play space through a water purification plant in Bagerhat districts.

Field teams report that sweet water sources in Barguna district were made saline by floods following the cyclone. Save the Children has sent a team of staff from our local partner, NGO Forum, to test the salt level in local water sources and determine whether or not it is safe for use.

Health

Government medical teams are providing medical assistance at 12 child friendly spaces, along with Save the Children medical staff.

Medicines received from Americares are currently in Barisal. Save the Children is working with BRAC, a national NGO, to prioritize medicines for immediate use, including antibiotics, ORS and ointments for skin and eye infections. Five medical teams from BRAC, 15 from GK (a local NGO) and 22 from the Ministry of Health will screen cases and provide medicines accordingly in the worst-hit areas of Barguna and Pathukhali districts.

Save the Children’s community health volunteers continue to distribute ORS, provide education about health and hygiene and conduct disease surveillance. About 300 volunteers are working to identify families for possible health interventions in 19 unions of Barisal division.

Protection

Forty-two child friendly spaces have been opened in five districts of Barisal and Khulna divisions benefiting 4,500 children. Thirty of these spaces are operated by a local partner in Barisal district (UDDIPAN). The remaining 12 in Khulna and Barisal divisions provide 3,000 children with one hot meal a day and basic medical care, in addition to play and recreational activities. Registration of children is underway at these 12 spaces.

IV. Security

The security situation in Save the
Children’s impact areas is currently stable. Telecommunications and internet in Barisal are functioning.

Additionally, in Potuakhali, Pirajpur and Barguna, Save the Children has distributed

• High energy biscuits to 4,050 families(Total 16,200 packets)
• Water to 4,050 families
• Halo tabs for water purification to 4,050 families (40,500 tablets)
• 43,860 oral rehydration solution (ORS) packets

Please click the images to view the appendix.

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