SAVE THE CHILDREN ALLIANCE
SITREP # 11- 30 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 53 child friendly spaces benefiting 9,600 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:
• Food rations (rice, pulses, salt and edible oil) to more than 21,000 families
• Household items to more than 9,600 families
• 2.2 million packets of high energy biscuits
• Blankets to more than 9,900 families
• 278,900 liters of fresh water from water purification plans
• Halo tabs for water purification to more than 11,000 families
• 28,000 oral rehydration solution packets

II. Situation Update
The latest UN situation update (November 28) reports that Cyclone Sidr has affected seven million people in 31 districts, with 3,243 people killed, 34,708 injured and 880 still missing.

The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) estimates that 366,000 homes were completely destroyed (875,000 damaged) and 1.85 million acres of agricultural land.

The government and UN estimate that 3,174 educational institutions were destroyed by the cyclone. However, detailed assessment of damages is still needed. At the request of UNICEF, Save the Children is taking the lead in coordinating an education assessment which will quantify damages to pre-primary, primary and secondary schools and is expected to be completed by mid-December.

The WHO reports that 210 cases of severe diarrhea and 600 cases of typhoid have been reported in the cyclone affected areas. Save the Children staff in Pathukali have reported that the food being distributed by aid agencies is often not nutritious enough to meet the needs of young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women. Fruit, which is normally an important dietary component for these groups, is not available.

Although UN OCHA has not formally activated the cluster system, logistics, health, early recovery, shelter, protection and education clusters are meeting informally. Under the leadership of the government, Disaster Emergency Response (DER) general coordination meetings and information management meetings are being held about once a week. Save the Children is actively participating in all clusters. This week, cluster meetings focused largely on establishing TORs and information-sharing mechanisms. A WHO-led meeting was held in Barisal to coordinate reporting and disease surveillance mechanisms.

Save the Children completed an assessment of 19 highly-affected unions in Barguna and Pathuakhali districts. The report is currently being finalized and translated into English. Initial findings are that drinking water is among the most urgent needs as most sources have become saline in areas where potable water was scare even before the disaster. A majority of families in coastal villages are living outdoors or in makeshift shelters. Both shelter and winter clothing were identified as urgent needs while the weather becomes colder. A large amount of clothing was lost, both that stored in homes and that which people were wearing at the time of the cyclone.

III. Response by Sector

Food and NFIs

After completing distribution of 5,500 “family food packs” containing rice, lentils, cooking oil, salt and potato, Save the Children is distributing rice provided by WFP as well as pulses and vegetable oil in Pathuakhali and Barguna districts. A contract is being negotiated with WFP to distribute 27,557 metric tons of food in Bhola, Barguna and Pathuakhali districts in December, January and February.

Distribution of non-food items, including cooking utensils, clothing, matches and soap is ongoing, with a current focus on high-need areas in Barguna and Pathuakhali districts. To date a total of 9,600 families have been provided with kits containing cooking and eating utensils, soap, matches and a plastic sheet (see appendix C for full list).

Water and Sanitation
Save the Children is maintaining water purification plans in Barguna (2) and Pathuakhali (1) with a fourth being installed in Barguna. district. As of November 30, the plants have provided a total of 278,700 liters of water. Three to four Save the Children staff members are posted at each location to operate the plant and ensure fair distribution. Speed boats are used to transport water to families in remote areas who are not able to access the plants. At least three additional three 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.

Health

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

Medicines received from Americares have been provided to two medical teams from Swabesh Development, five medical teams from BRAC, 15 from GK (a local NGO) and 22 teams from the Ministry of Health. The teams are screening cases and provide medicines accordingly in the worst-hit areas of Barguna and Pathukhali districts. Five teams of Save the Children staff members are working in five sub-districts to support the medical teams and strengthen their linkages to the communities.
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
Fifty-three child friendly spaces have been opened in five districts of Barisal and Khulna divisions benefiting 9,600 children (31 of the spaces benefit more than 50 children each while 22 of the spaces are larger and benefit about 350 children each). The spaces are operated through local partners. The remaining 22 spaces in Khulna and Barisal divisions provide 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.