অনুগ্রহ করে অপেক্ষা করুন। ছবি আটো ইন্সার্ট হবে।
SITREP # 12 - 7 DECEMBER 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 26,000 families
• Household items to more than 13,800 families
• 2.3 million packets of high energy biscuits
• Blankets to more than 10,000 families
• 774,000 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 (December 3) reports that Cyclone Sidr has affected 8.6 million people in 31 districts, with 3,292 people killed, 52,808 injured and 871 still missing.
The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) estimates that 563,887 homes were completely destroyed (939,675 damaged) with 2,400 educational institutions totally damaged and 12,399 partially.
Approximately 690 government medical teams (consisting of medical doctors and paramedics) are working in the affected areas. A high prevalence of typhoid fever and skin diseases has been detected in Bagerhat district. It is anticipated that water borne disease as well as ARI/Pneumonia cases may increase due to lack of food, safe drinking water and poor sanitation, inadequate shelter and a shortage of warm clothes, especially for children.
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 the use of the Who, What, and Where templates, the need for further joint assessments and how to best support the GoB response plan. At the same day, the World Bank has called a meeting to discuss assessments and further cooperation, with a special focus on recovery.
Relief assistance from international donors now totals USD 233.5 million. The World Bank has pledged funding of up to USD 250 million, and the Asian Development Bank is formulating a relief and reconstruction proposal worth USD 150 million, potentially above USD 200 million, pending co-financing arrangements.
III. Response by Sector
Four boats provided by DFID are expected in Barisal by Friday, December 7th.
Needs Assessments
A rapid needs assessment was conducted in Sharonkola and included discussions with community groups and children. The assessment is currently being compiled and translated into English. Initial findings include reports of increased domestic violence since the cyclone and concern about a lack of shelter (children commented that the places they were living now were very cramped, damp and difficult to sleep in). These difficult living conditions may be causing an increase in domestic violence. Children also said they had little to do because schools are not operating and they have no idea when schools will start again, which is causing an increased sense of insecurity. Separated and unaccompanied children are an issue - they have been absorbed into the community/extended family but there is concern about the capacity to care for these children and thus an imperative to register and monitor the situation of these children.
Food and NFIs
The next major round of NFI distributions is being planned, with 11,000 household kits including two blankets per kit. 10,000 more kits are in the process of being procured. Food has been distributed to 21,000 households (rice, oil and pulses). SC is in the process of having 1,500 metric tons of wheat it milled into flour so it can be distributed.
Protection
Training for 21 safe space facilitators was developed and piloted in the Sharonkola district. A training for 20 adolescent girls on protection (vulnerabilities of adolescent girls and how to support each other) and hygiene was implemented before distribution of hygiene kits. On Friday, December 7th a meeting of Alliance members was held in Dhaka to formulate an agreed upon strategy and basic minimum standards for safe spaces, and to clarify and come to an agreement on common terminology. The key deliverable from this meeting will be a standardized training manual looking at minimum standards in the design, implementation, and management of safe spaces.
Health
Half of the 27 metric tons of AmeriCares medicines have been distributed (see last sit rep for a list of health teams). An initial report states that 15 BRAC teams have provided healthcare to 851 people in Barguna Sadar and 1,496 people in Pathergatha. VP5 (high energy biscuits for pregnant/breastfeeding women and young children) distribution was completed with 51 metric tons provided to 25,000 households.
For more information, contact:
Information Officer
[email protected]
+88 172 617 3104
