FLOODING IN NORTH‐WESTERN BANGLADESH HCTT JOINT NEEDS ASSESSMENT

About this Report

Nature of disaster: River and Monsoon Flooding Date of disaster: Initial reports from around the 15th August. JNA Triggered on the 19th August Location: North‐west districts of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Rangpur, Gaibanda. Bogra, Sirajgonj, Jamalpur and Sherpur Assessment by: Multi‐stakeholder participation using the JNA format at Union level and secondary data review Date of Publication: FIRST DRAFT CIRCULATED 31.08.2014 THIS VERSION INCORMPORATING CLUSTER COMMENTS AND ANALYSIS 07.09.2014 Report prepared by: Multi‐stakeholder team Inquiries to: Abdul Wahed (CARE), Mahbub Rahman (CARE), Ahasanul Hoque (ACAPS), Liam Costello (FSC), Jenny Burley (SI) Sandie Walton‐Ellery (ACAPS) Cover photo Jafar Alam, Islamic Relief, Women in Dewanganj (used with their permission)

Bangladesh, September 8, 2014

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Page 1

CONTENTS 1. Overview of the situation and the disaster ...... 6 2. Maps of the affected area ...... 10 3. Priorities reported at Union level ...... 11 3.1 Priorities for immediate assistance...... 11 3.2 Need of external assistance for immediate support ...... 12 3.2.1 Recovery Needs ...... 13 4. Affected areas and populations ...... 14 5. Assessment Methodology ...... 15 5.1 Assessment Chronology ...... 17 5.2 The use of Union rather than Upazila information ...... 17 5.3 Limitations ...... 17 5.4 Districts and Upazilas included in the assessment ...... 18 6. Findings by sector ...... 20 6.1 WASH ...... 20 6.1.1 Water ...... 21 6.1.2 Sanitation ...... 22 6.1.3 Hygiene ...... 23 6.2 Food Security & Livelihoods ...... 24 6.2.1 Food Security ...... 25 6.2.2 Livelihoods ...... 26 6.2.3 Agriculture...... 28 6.3 Shelter ...... 32 6.4 Education ...... 38 6.5 Protection ...... 42 6.6 Nutrition ...... 43 6.7 Health ...... 46 6.8 Accessibility to the affected areas ...... 51 6.8.1 Accessibility ...... 52 6.8.2 Communication ...... 52

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg2

ACRONYMS Acronym Expansion ACAPS The Assessment Capacities Project BDT Bangladesh Taka CFW Cash for Work CGI Corrugated Iron DAE Department of Agricultural Extension DLS Directorate of Livestock Services DMIC Disaster Management Information Committee EiE Education in Emergencies FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation FFW Food for Work FS Food Security GAM Global Acute Malnutrition GoB Government of Bangladesh Ha Hectare HCTT Humanitarian Coordination Task Team HH Household HtR Hard to Reach INGO‐ESG INGO Emergency Sub Group IPC Integrated Food Security Phase Classification JNA Joint Needs Assessment LCG DER Local Consultative Group for Disaster Emergency Response MoA Ministry of Agriculture MT Metric Tonne NAWG Needs Assessment Working Group NGO Non Government Organisation SAM Severe Acute Malnutrition Tk Taka ToR Terms of Reference ULO Upazila Livestock Officer UN United Nations WASH Water, sanitation and health WFP World Food Programme WHO World Health Organisation

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg3

HCTT JOINT NEEDS ASSESSMENT MONSOON AND RIVER FLOODING IN NORTH‐WESTERN BANGLADESH

Report dated 8th September, 2014 ‐ based on data collected from the 25th ‐28th August and including input, comments and analysis received from stakeholders. No further versions or updates of this report are anticipated. KEY FINDINGS

 Almost 2 million people are affected in the nine districts assessed. By visiting officials at the Union level, the JNA found that 1,876,636 people were reported as affected – this is 33% of the population in the affected area. - 642,264 people affected in Kurigram (38% of the total population of the affected) - 423,679 people affected in Sirajgonj (43% of the total population of the district affected) - 338,459 people affected in Gaibandha (41% of the total population of the district affected) - 140,610 people affected in Jamalpur (29% of the total population of the district affected) - 111,239 people affected in Bogra (61% of the total population of the district affected) - 81,091 people affected in Lalmonirhat (11% of the total population of the district affected) - 64,603 people affected in Rangpur (19% of the total population of the district affected) - 50,876 people affected in Sherpur (26% of the total population of the district affected) - 23,815 people affected in Nilphamari (9% of the total population of the district affected)  In terms of priority districts: - By percentage of the population affected, the districts of most concern are Bogra, Sirajgonj, and Gaibandha - Kurigram is a priority district because approximately 650,000 people are affected and reports indicate that over 120,000 people are presently displaced  Based on female headed HHs comprising 7.8% of the total households in the area, it is estimated that 146,378 female headed households are affected.  Overall, food is the first priority reported by Union officials  The most impacted livelihood groups at this stage appear to be small and marginal farmers, and day labourers (agricultural and non‐agricultural).  Other main reported needs include livelihoods, sanitation and water  Although greater investigation is needed, present information indicates significant impact to standing crops which will impact agricultural labour, potentially extend the lean season and have “knock on” effects on food security1  Immediate food security has been severely affected and food stocks destroyed.  A significant proportion of assessed unions of affected areas in Bogra, Sirajganj, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Kurigram and Sherpur districts reported immediate relief needs and zero or inadequate resources available at union levels to manage the needs  Union authorities report food, followed by sanitation and livelihoods as their main priorities for assistance  DMIC reports that 153,337 houses are destroyed and/or damaged in the districts under consideration.2 As people return home and waters recede damage to houses is likely to become for evident and this number may increase

1 Informal information from agricultural experts indicates that the Aman crop is most likely lost and questions remain over the ability to plant the winter Boro crop. 2DMIC, Situation report, 4th September 2014.

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg4

PRIORITY INTERVENTIONS FOR RESPONSE  Food security responses should focus on the most vulnerable unions in Bogra, Kurigram and Sirajganj.  In areas where markets are open, a cash transfer approach should be considered especially among the most vulnerable (marginal farmers and daily agricultural workers) during the upcoming lean season. An assessment of markets may be needed to inform this.  Provision of cash (and agricultural inputs, such as seeds and fertilizers) for investment in cultivation (particularly in Bogra, Kurigram and Jamalpur) based on information indicating appropriate inputs are locally available.  Support to ensure that the Boro rice crop (or alternative winter vegetables) can be planted.  Temporary latrines are required for spontaneous settlements (mainly in Bogra and Rangpur)  Improved and immediate access to safe drinking water, (particularly in Sirajganj)  Emergency shelter response (coordinated with WASH response) should focus on people displaced and with fully damaged shelter (ensuring that transitional shelter responses include landless families, the most vulnerable members of the community)  Emphasis on ensuring districts known to be most affected by the cold wave receive shelter support before onset of cold wave in December 2014  Rebuilding of houses in new locations to take place in areas free from risk of further erosion to ensure resilient house and WASH structures  Identification and establishment of safe alternative learning spaces for children  Continued support to health system to ensure it is functioning to deliver essential health and nutrition services, especially with regard to reproductive care for women  Provision of transportation to health facilities if required  Provision of ORS to reduce the impact of dehydration due to diarrhoea diseases  Use of the Communities in Emergencies (CwCiE) group to send key messages that relate to available services, safety and protection to affected communities RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT/INFORMATION NEEDS This assessment has limitations due to its time frame and approach.

While it does provide an overall quantitative picture of the disaster and the key priorities as identified by Union officials, it does not give voice to affected communities; ensure a thorough coverage of the different impact of the floods on men and women or represent the different needs across different living arrangements since the disaster.

At this point it is understood that GoB D‐Form information is available. It is also known that the disaster covers far more than 9 districts (a total of 20 are noted in the DMIC sit rep of the 4th September).

The team involved in preparing this report recommend that a JNA Phase 2 should be considered for a purposive sample of sites within affected districts including ones that have been assessed in this JNA and ones that have not.

In addition to the giving voice to affected people, a more detailed gender perspective and understanding needs across different sites, the recommendation for using the JNA phase 2 approach is based on lessons learned after Tropical Storm Mahasen where the Phase 2 JNA was not carried out in favour of moving to detailed phase 3 assessments by clusters. These assessments took a long time before findings

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg5

were shared and a harmonization of the different reports to create a shared overview didn’t happen. The JNA Phase 2 assessment would be more rapid than the detailed cluster assessments and, by its nature, would result in a multi‐sector overview.

Key considerations for this assessment will be:  Availability of staff to participate (particularly in field work where gender balanced teams of 5 people are required)  Appropriate site selection to cover differences within the affected area while at the same time not “over‐assessing” and extending the assessment time frame  The need for a consistent orientation (2 days) for all field teams prior to data collection  Time taken to travel between locations in the flood affected areas that span the entire country

The primary data from the phase 2 assessment will be complemented by the quantitative information from the D‐Forms and any new information that becomes available. The report would include a greater level of disaggregated baseline data as requested by some stakeholders and would benefit from specific assessments (such as a market assessment) if these can be done in time to inform the report.

In addition to rapid assessments, specialized on‐going monitoring is advised particularly in relation to:  Nutrition conditions, current breastfeeding practices and aggravating factors (given existing nutritional vulnerabilities in the districts)  Incidence of water‐borne diseases  Information on riverbank erosion in affected areas

1. OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION AND THE DISASTER

From August 13th, heavy rains in the main river basins and upstream catchments of India, along with continuous rainfall in northwest and north‐eastern Bangladesh triggered flooding in low‐lying, vulnerable and densely populated areas.3

At the time of launching the JNA at the request of the HCTT, districts in the north‐west of the country were worst impacted and these are the focus of this report. In addition to GoB DMIC sit reps, reports from field based non‐government organizations (I/NGOs and UN) received from the 17thto the 19th of August indicated that flooding was becoming a serious issue in various parts of the country and particularly in a significant number of districts clustered around the north‐west (Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Bogra, Serajganj, Jamalpur, Sherpur) that are known to have many ‘hard to reach areas’ (HtR)4 and include populations that are classified as ‘extreme poor’ (Figure 5 and 6).

3 See for example, Muslim Aid; 18.08.14, Oxfam; 18.08.14, ECHO; 25.08.14, BDRCS; 25.08.14. Bangladesh is considered to be one of the world’s most hazard‐prone countries, and, as a flood plain made up of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers, flooding is one of the most common disasters experienced regularly by the people of Bangladesh. Bangladesh experiences an annual monsoon from April – October with 80% of annual rainfall occurring during this period (CDMP 2009 BMD). 4Hard to Reach areas and people are defined as areas having poor water and sanitation coverage due to adverse hydro‐ geological condition, having poor and inadequate communication network, and frequent occurrence of natural calamities which in turn results in higher rate of child mortality and accelerates the vicious cycle of poverty. In addition, people who do not have any fixed place for living (e.g., gypsies, sex workers) are called hard‐to‐reach people due to their social exclusion from adequate WatSan services.

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg6

The situation in the areas represented in this assessment as well as the rest of the country continues to change rapidly. While the situation may be getting worse in some areas, the possibility that receding flood waters will reveal new and different problems exists in others and in some places reports indicate people are returning to their homes and may be starting to self‐recover. Response efforts are well underway by the government and many organizations although a consolidated picture of who is responding where and in what way is presently not available.

Figure 2: Reported flood areas since July 2014. Figure 1: Flood affected areas of the north west.

In the days following the initiation of the JNA, a growing number of districts were reported as affected by floods. Many of the most recent areas include the north‐east of the country (which is prone to flash flooding and includes the haor basin region), and, even more recently, districts in the centre of the country close to Dhaka.5 The most recent Government Disaster Management Information Centre6 situation report mentions that 20 (out of the country’s 64 districts) are affected by floods. It should also be noted that flooding in the South‐western districts of Bhola, Patualkhali and Barguna had been reported since mid‐July 7.

5 DMIC, Situation Report, 30th August, 2014. 6 At the time of writing this was the DMIC Situation Report 4th September 7 A JNA project review of available information on the south‐west requested by the HCTT found the information difficult to harmonize and generate a cohesive understanding of that situation and recommended further assessment (dated 12.08.14).

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg7

While there are limitations in comparing floods from one year to the next, figures from this JNA assessment indicate that these floods of 2014 are the most severe floods the country has faced since the so called “mega‐flood” of 2007 where 46 districts and 16 million people were affected. A key difference is that the 2007 floods took place in July and the current flooding wasn’t considered a major concern until August.8 A comprehensive, country wide overview of the situation has been difficult to obtain because information became available at different points in the time‐line of the assessment and the fact that this assessment focused only on 9 districts.9

Table 1: The Government of Bangladesh sit‐rep issued on 4th September 2014 reported the following affected districts10: Affected Affected Affected Affected family District Upazilla (No.) People Family (fully) (partially) Gaibandha 3 132, 047 11, 508 16, 708 Nilphamari 1 20, 310 260 3802 Kurigram All Upazila (9) 279, 669 3823 61, 171 Bogra 3 432, 620 1230 105, 130 Lalmonirhat All Upazila (5) 46,327 839 10, 198 Rangpur 3 12,148 665 2, 372 Dhaka 1 4100 1013 0 Jamalpur 4 513, 740 20, 525 87, 253 Tangail 8 110,565 3, 679 34, 804 Sirajganj 5 250, 624 8, 496 60, 942 Faridpur 3 4190 272 803 Netrakona 5 32, 624 0 8,156 Sunamgonj 4 445000 4120 32, 678 Rajbari 5 53, 695 0 10, 739 Munshigonj 3 12, 263 79 2, 886 Sylhet 3 128630 0 29845 Manikgonj 3 18,127 4648 0 Madaripur 2 4161 1, 067 0 Shariatpur 3 21,490 4,298 0 Bhola All Upazila (7) 460, 000 0 92,000 Total 2, 983, 330 66, 522 559, 487

As the monsoon can extend into October, the situation can worsen over coming days and weeks11. The present weather forecast at the time of writing is for rainfall in most districts in Bangladesh12 however the flooding situation is changing rapidly day to day, with some reports of water receding 13. According to the DMIC Situation Report on 4th September14, all major rivers are in a falling trend, and 9 out of 83 river reporting stations are running above their danger levels. The flood Situation in the

8 Comparing the magnitude and impact of the flood is not clear. This is an assumption based on the number of people found to be affected in this JNA. See JNA Project, Pre‐Disaster Secondary data, River Flooding, 9 for figures on recent floods in Bangladesh. 9For an explanation of why this JNA focused on the north‐west, see the methodology section. 10DMIC, Situation Report, 4th September, 2014. 11 Muslim Aid Report 18/08/2014 12 www.bmd.gov.bd 13 GoB DMIC Sitrep – 04/09/2014 (most recent Sitrep)

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg8

districts of Bogra, Serajganj, Jamalpur, Tangail Shariotpur, Madaripur, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, and Manikganj was projected to improve over the next 72 hours (from 4th September).The rivers around Dhaka City (Buriganga, Balu, Turag and Tongi Khal) were also projected to fall over the next 72 hours (from 4th September).

14 GoB DMIC Sitrep – 04/09/2014

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg9

2. MAPS OF THE AFFECTED AREA

Figure 3: Total households affected Figure 4: Total individuals affected

Figure 5: Hard to reach areas Figure 6: Extreme poverty

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg10

3. PRIORITIES REPORTED AT UNION LEVEL

3.1 PRIORITIES FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE

Union authorities were asked to rank the 3 highest priority sectors for immediate assistance in their Union (Q.60, for the assessment format used please see appendix i and ii) and they were asked what is the first most important required intervention, the second most important, the third most important. The calculation of the main priority per district is derived from the theory of election systems, the Borda count15.

From this method, food, sanitation and livelihoods are reported as the main priority sectors across the districts

As shown in the following table, food is a significant priority in all districts. Livelihood has been reported as a concern for Sherpur, Bogra, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts. Sanitation is particularly a concern in Nilphamari and Jamalpur. Water is a priority for Sirajganj, Rangpur and Gaibandha.

Table 2: Priority needs District Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Lalmonirhat Food Livelihood Sanitation Nilphamari Sanitation Food Livelihood Kurigram Food Livelihood Sanitation Rangpur Food Water Livelihood Gaibandha Food Water Sanitation Bogra Food Livelihood Shelter Sirajgonj Food Water Sanitation Jamalpur Food Sanitation Water Sherpur Livelihood Food Water All Districts Food Sanitation Livelihood

15 The Borda count determines the most preferred items of an election by giving each response a certain number of points corresponding to the position in which it is ranked by each respondent. Once all preferences have been counted, the item with the most points is determined as the most preferred. See ACAPS Resources: http://www.acaps.org/resourcescats/downloader/heat_maps_as_tools_to_summarise_priorities/69

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Page 11

Table 3: Priority Needs based on Borda Count

Total Bogra Sherpur Rangpur Sirajganj Jamalpur Kurigram Gaibandha Nilphamari Lalmonirhat Food Sanitation Livelihood Water Shelter Health Bedding and Blankets Clothing Education Number of 9 26 20 55 28 10 6 7 36 197 Unions

Very High Higher Intermediate Low

3.2 NEED OF EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE FOR IMMEDIATE SUPPORT

 A significant proportion of assessed unions of affected areas in Bogra, Sirajganj, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Kurigram and Sherpur districts reported immediate relief needs and zero or inadequate recourses available at union levels to manage the needs.  In Bogra, 89% of unions out of the total affected areas for the district are in serious need of immediate relief assistance.  Assessed unions in Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts reported being able to manage with resources available at union level. In Nilphamari, 10% of unions of the total assessed areas of the district are in serious need of immediate relief with sufficient resources available at union level to manage the immediate relief needs.

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg12

Based on assessment teams own observations (Q 59 on the assessment format, appendix i and ii) and in discussion with Union authorities the assessment findings on the need of immediate assistance are shown in the following graphs. Both graphs are shown because a while a high percentage of Unions requesting assistance is significant, the number of Unions requesting assistance is also important, so in Bogra for example, more than 80% of affected Unions claimed they were in need of assistance however there were less unions affected in Bogra than in Kurigram.

Immediate Relief Needs Reported Immediate Relief Needs Reported

serious need some need enough local capacities serious need some need enough local capacities

100% 30 80% 25

unions 20 Unions

60%

of 15

40% 10

affected 20% 5 of Number 0% 0 %

Figure 7 (left) Immediate relief needs as a percentage of total affected unions and Figure 8 (right)in whole numbers 3.2.1 RECOVERY NEEDS The following graph shows how the assessment teams together with the Union authorities viewed the need of support for people to recover from these floods over coming months (i.e. longer term need of support) (Q61 on the assessment format, appendix i and ii).

Recovery Needs in Coming Months Recovery Needs in the Coming Months

serious need some need enough local capacities serious need some need enough local capacities

100% 35 30 80% 25 Unions

Unions 60% 20 of 40% 15 10 20% affected

5 Number of

0% 0 %

Figure 9 (left) Recovery needs as a proportion of total affected unions and Figure 10 (right) in whole numbers)

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg13

Longer term needs that would extend over the coming months have received significant emphasis by a large proportion of the assessed unions. Assessed unions in Bogra, Kurigram, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Gaibandha and Kurigram districts reported a serious need for assistance to recover in the coming months, with Bogra reporting the greatest need for external assistance. Assessed unions of Rangpur and Nilphamari districts indicated recovery needs can be managed with resources available at union level.

4. AFFECTED AREAS AND POPULATIONS16

Quantitative information has been collected at Union level directly by JNA teams from the offices of the Union Chairmen, as outlined in the methodology section, and baselines have been taken from the 2011 census. The complete data is available in annex iii17.

The objective of this approach was to be able to indicate areas where the impact of floods was most severe including mapping worst affected unions.

Table 4: Total numbers of affected populations

Bogra Gaibandha Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Rangpur Sherpur Sirajganj Total Total HH (Census 50366 201089 114658 391165 161687 58667 82396 47846 231637 1339511 2011) Affected 27611 102923 32035 143956 17541 5168 11272 11891 71881 424278 HH (JNA) Number of affected 9 30 20 63 28 10 12 7 36 215 Unions Total population 183499 818354 481502 1632319 714867 257076 339742 196074 988690 5612123 (Census 2011) Affected Population 111239 338459 140610 642264 81091 23815 64603 50876 423679 1867636 (JNA) % population 61% 41% 29% 39% 11% 9% 19% 26% 43% affected Number of people 20300 9408 11250 122911 6586 183 14607 102 46889 232236 displaced

16Source: 2011 census and information given to JNA assessment teams by Union staff (Union Chairmen and Union Secretary). 17This is a separate file that will also be made available on the HCTT website and has been shared through the HCTT. It is available in Appendix iii at the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mmujgela2pg0o6e/140903_NW_Flooding_JNA_Phase_1_Union_Level_DB.xlsx?dl=0

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg14

5. ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY

According to the JNA approach that stakeholders have agreed to (including the HCTT and LCG‐DER) and the specific ToRs for this assessment (annex vi), the goal of this joint assessment was to provide a rapidly available shared understanding of the impact of river and monsoon flooding in nine north‐western districts of Bangladesh that:  Identifies priority needs (immediate needs and recovery needs) of the affected population as recommended by the local officials and staff working in the affected area  Provides approximate numbers of affected people (based on GoB information collected at the Union level from local authorities)  Identifies severely affected Unions and Upazilas within the overall affected area  Provides initial recommendations to inform strategic decisions on resource mobilization and response planning  Recommends next steps in regard to future assessments.

Key features of the assessment involved field teams compiling information into one consolidated template (the Phase 1 Union Format) for all Unions in Upazilas known to be affected. A list of affected Upazilas was based on available information at the time of assessment planning18. Once completed, this assessment format is a compilation of information from several sources including; key informant interviews with the Union Chairmen and other Union Officials, UN and I/NGOs working in the area as well as the direct observations of the field teams. 19

Because of the nature of this flooding disaster in Bangladesh and the absence of consistent, comparable information across the affected area, stakeholders collectively decided that it would be useful to have information available at the Union level. Because of the vast geographic scope of the floods, this implied sending teams to teams to 300 Unions20 in 32 Upazilas of 9 districts making it a large and complex logistic exercise.

This report is based on this primary data collected in the field from the 215 Unions reported to be affected in some way as a result of the floods and the compilation of available secondary data on the floods as well as pre‐crisis knowledge and baselines21.

After the JNA was triggered and communicated through an email from the co‐chairs of the HCTT, the assessment was coordinated by a multi‐agency core group. District level focal point agencies were determined based on their field presence and exposure to the JNA approach.22

One option available to the JNA for initial assessment is the use of the MAF plane for a rapid “fly‐over” of the affected area to survey initial damage from the air and define areas for field assessment. Due to circumstances beyond their control, MAF was unable to operate while the JNA was on‐going. After the initial draft of the assessment report was shared for comment a fly‐over was possible by a small multi‐ agency team. Observations from this flight have been incorporated into this version of the report.

18 Information included government and non‐government sources. 19 The format is available in English and Bangla, see appendix I and ii 20 Data was only received from 268 Unions due to time and logistic constraints 21The JNA team researched secondary data themselves. Both in‐crisis and post‐crisis sources were used with the basis of the pre‐crisis secondary data being the pre‐disaster SDR on River Flooding prepared by the JNA Project in early 2014. 22See Annex vii for list of participating agencies. FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg15

The assessment covered all affected Upazilas in the districts of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Bogra, Sirajgonj, Jamalpur and Sherpur. These districts were selected for assessment because, according to initial government and development partner reports, these were the most affected districts.23 Upazilas that did not appear to be affected at all based on available information were not included in the assessment.24 Within Upazilas that were considered affected ALL Unions were visited by assessment teams. All core team organizations had participated in JNA training events prior to the assessment and were aware of the approach.

Field teams were oriented on the Phase 1 Union format (Annex i in Bangla & Annex ii in English) on Sunday 24th August. From Sunday onwards, the assessment teams, composed of two to three people, visited all Unions in the targeted districts. The completed formats were entered into the pre‐defined excel spreadsheet by the teams in the field and sent to the coordination team for data processing and analysis. All human resources and logistics including vehicles arranged and provided by the participating agencies on a voluntary basis.

More than 15 organizations including INGOs, UN agencies, the IFRC, BDRCS worked in partnership with local partner NGOs to collect information directly from each Union. Data was initially consolidated at the Upazila level before being sent to a data analysis team in Dhaka. CARE, Bangladesh was the lead agency overall for the assessment based on both its strong presence in the north of the country and its leadership of the JNA Project. Technical support to the assessment was provided by ACAPS.25

In‐line with the phase 1 ToRs26 joint analysis for a Phase 1 assessment can only be very light due to the time frame so this took place largely via email and phone correspondence. Cluster leads were invited to send key information prior to the assessment findings as well as to comment on the preliminary findings of the assessment.

Figure 11: Unions covered by joint needs assessment

23 During the course of the assessment it became clear that other areas of the country were also beginning to experience severe flooding. 24 Due to both resource constraints (time and human resources) and also because the objective was to understand the impact in affected areas, not to compare with un‐affected areas. 25 www.acaps.org ACAPS has been providing technical input to the improvement of multi‐sector, multi‐stakeholder assessments in Bangladesh for several years. For this assessment coordination as well as GIS mapping of findings was provided through a grant to ACAPS from DfID. 26http://www.lcgbangladesh.org/JNA%20materials%20update.php FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg16

5.1 ASSESSMENT CHRONOLOGY

13thAugust Initial concerns about flooding in north‐western districts of Bangladesh Reports received from organizations working in affected areas 18th GoB issues sit‐rep (in Bangla) 19th HCTT Co‐chairs trigger JNA 20th DMIC issues sit‐rep, lead agency for JNA agreed 21st Assessment core groups for field and Dhaka formed and assessment planning begins 22nd‐23rd Field planning, teams mobilized 24th Orientation at district level, secondary data review in Dhaka 25th‐28th Primary data collection, entry 28th‐30th Data processing 31st Draft findings shared at a meeting attended by stakeholders 1st–4th Multi‐sector / multi‐stakeholder analysis and comment (Clusters comments were Sept requested by the 4th September) 8th Sept Findings finalized and shared

5.2 THE USE OF UNION RATHER THAN UPAZILA INFORMATION

For this assessment, stakeholders weighed up the value of the added detail that is provided by collecting information at the Union level with the faster approach of collecting information from the Upazila level. A decision was taken to use Union level information. This decision was informed by:  The onset of the flooding was not sudden; the floods built up over time to become a concern. It was thus felt that the need for a very rapid assessment was not as great as the need for information that indicated most affected areas.  A breakdown of information to the Union level is not usually available in DMIC/GoB sit‐reps, and was not available at the time of launching the assessment.  A sufficient number of organizations were available in affected areas and willing to use staff for the collection of information.  Lessons learned from previous assessments have indicated the value that mapping information down to the Union level could add in terms of data visualization. 27

The most significant trade off in collecting information at the union is that the assessment will take longer in terms of days in the field and in terms of processing a greater volume of data.  4 days in the field  183 staff in the field, from  28 organizations collecting data  2 days to process data  1 day to compile initial draft report

5.3 LIMITATIONS

There are clear limitations to what can be achieved in an assessment of so many unions in such a rapid time scale. Although the assessment was not truly a “phase 1” assessment because the initial days of the flooding had passed before the assessment was triggered, the phase 1 tools were used. This involves mainly a key informant interview with the Union Chairman in all Unions. As such the

27 This was particularly true of the Mahasen assessment in May 2013. FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg17

assessment findings presented here are mainly a compilation of the views and priorities as understood by these Chairmen. The priorities and needs as felt by affected communities are not covered, there are no focus group discussions and a very limited gender perspective can be obtained from the primary data. Discussions with Union Chairmen also preclude the discussion of any sensitive subjects such as Gender Based Violence, reproductive health and the needs of women in relation to hygiene.

Clusters were given a full 4 working days to compile their comments, interpretation and analysis of the findings so that these could be fed into this version of the report. Overall these additions were limited. This has meant an extra 4 days have been added to the assessment timeline but much of the interpretation of findings and decisions about secondary data to include has been made by the JNA core team who finalized this report.

Considerable joint effort has gone in to developing the JNA Approach for Bangladesh including a broad range of stakeholders, it has evolved and improved based on lessons learned from real‐time assessments. This should continue based on lessons learned from this assessment but the continual trade‐off between time, quality, detail and available resources will influence the assessment.

5.4 DISTRICTS AND UPAZILAS INCLUDED IN THE ASSESSMENT

Table 5: Poverty data of affected populations Affected Affected Upazila Number Total Total Percentage district of households Population of population Unions (Census (Census below lower 2011) 2011) poverty line Bogra Sariakandi 6 35323 124935 53.50% Sonatola 3 15043 58564 50.10% Total 9 50366 183499 Gaibandha Fulchari 7 40948 172492 GaibandhaSadar 8 56660 221993 50.00% Saghata 7 42953 169627 52.50% Sundarganj 8 60528 254242 56.10% Total 30 201089 818354 Jamalpur Dewanganj 8 51298 220106 67.70% Islampur 12 63360 261396 65.50% Total 20 114658 481502 Kurigram Bhurungamari 10 57005 231538 68.20% Char Rajibpur 3 13031 56551 73.90% Chilmari 6 33459 137033 69.00% KurigramSadar 6 40999 178793 66.10% Nageshwari 15 88010 372131 70.30% PhulbariSadar 5 32067 129115 65.80% Raumari 5 46871 196417 73.50% Ulipur 13 91249 376674 66.90% Total 63 402691 1678252 Lalmonirhat Aditmari 3 19376 91354 55.70%

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg18

Hatibandha 6 22661 100248 56.50% Kaligang 3 24136 104580 52.70% LalmonirhatSadar 7 49401 207613 49.10% Patgram 9 46113 211072 53.30% Total 28 161687 714867 Nilphamari Dimla 6 32363 145774 75.70% Jaldhaka 4 26304 111302 74.00% Total 10 58667 257076 Rangpur Gangachara 4 27771 112861 64.70% Kaunia 6 33067 143863 67.00% Pirgachha 2 21558 83018 62.30% Total 12 82396 339742 Sherpur Jhenaigathi 7 47846 196074 47.20% Total 7 47846 196074 Sirajganj Belkuchi 4 19762 90033 50.60% Chauhali 7 40549 164650 54.20% Kazipur 10 48642 192525 51.00% Shahjadpur 8 63697 283623 56.40% SirajganjSadar 7 58987 257859 51.20% Total 36 231637 988690 TOTAL 215 1351037 5658056

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg19

6. FINDINGS BY SECTOR 6.1 WASH

KEY FINDINGS  Drinking water is a serious concern  A total of 168 unions reported that water supply was affected  A total of 195 unions reported that sanitation was affected  A lack of toilets where people are staying is causing people to defecate in the open in areas close to where drinking water is being accessed

SECTOR SUMMARY One of the main impacts of floods on the WASH sector is that water points become inundated and latrines are washed away.28

Issues that relate to water, sanitation and hygiene link closely to other sectors. When houses are destroyed or damaged, there is a high likelihood that household latrines are too. When people are displaced in Bangladesh, past experience has shown they will go to available high ground and reside in spontaneous settlements which are usually without sanitation, without privacy and often without easy access to safe drinking water. All of these issues are borne out in the information reported from affected areas.

These factors contribute to exacerbating risks related to health, protection and nutrition. Even when flood shelters are available or when people take refuge in public buildings such as schools, WASH facilities are usually inadequate. This is a concern from a public health perspective and can lead to diarrhea outbreaks (including cholera and dysentery), ARI and skin‐eye‐ear infections, which are common after disasters in Bangladesh.29

A significant lesson learned from the 2007 floods in Bangladesh, was that more patients than ever before attended the ICDDR,B health centre in Dhaka for treatment of water borne diseases. Although most of the patients lived in Dhaka city, it is significant that the centre identified Dhaka’s continued population growth, which has forced increasing numbers of low‐income households to live in areas with poor water and sanitation, as a contributing factor30. Further information on the water and sanitation in flood affected areas is needed to confirm the level of risk of diarrhea out‐breaks in affected areas but the 2007 experience highlights the need to monitor this closely.

The JNA SDR (2014) found limited documentation on the lessons learned from past WASH interventions post disaster. There is also limited accessible information available about how to detect if a water source/point has been corrupted or remains safe.31 Pre‐existing situation in the area ‐baselines on water points and sanitation coverage:

28 JNA Project ACAPS Pre‐disaster Secondary data ‐ River flooding ‐ March 2014 29 JNA Project ACAPS Pre‐disaster Secondary data ‐ River flooding ‐ March 2014 30 ICDDR,B, 2007 in (ALNAP 2008) ‐http://www.alnap.org/resource/5242 31 JNA Project ACAPS Pre‐disaster Secondary data ‐ River flooding ‐ March 2014 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg20

Table 6: Water and sanitation data from census 2011 Sources % of pop using an Total % of pop using an improved (MISC 2009; improved drinking water population sanitation facility (GOB Standard) Census 2011) source Bogra 183 499 100% 65 % Gaibandha 818 354 99% 46% Jamalpur 481 502 100% 34% Kurigram 1 632 319 100% 52% Lalmonirhat 714 867 100% 62% Nilphamari 257 076 100% 30% Rangpur 339 742 99% 42% Sherpur 196 074 99% 46% Sirajganj 988 690 100% 68% National 144 404 916 97,8% 51,5%

6.1.1 WATER The need for clean drinking water is described as an “acute” and “serious” immediate need in most available reports on the current flooding (Note: most of these secondary reports are drawing on the same primary sources for information). Large numbers of hand‐pump tube‐wells are reported to have been contaminated by flood waters forcing the affected population to seek alternative sources of water30.Reports suggest that these alternative sources are contaminated and polluted water bodies near to where people are staying.32 Due to the high percentage of the population with access to improved water sources pre‐flood, it is possible that no form of water treatment is common in the area and thus people may not be making any attempt to purify the current water supply.

Issues related to drinking water were specifically mentioned in reports that became available prior to or during the JNA in 5 of the districts under consideration for this assessment (Kurigram, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Jamalpur)33.

Table 7: Number of Unions reporting sanitation and water supply affected

Total Bogra Sherpur Rangpur Sirajganj Jamalpur Kurigram Gaibandha Nilphamari Lalmonirhat Water supply damaged 89% 73% 70% 81% 75% 10% 58% 71% 97% 76% Sanitation facility damaged 100% 80% 95% 87% 89% 100% 58% 86% 100% 89% Number of Union 9 30 20 63 28 10 12 7 36 215

32 BDRCS Report 25.08.2014 33 Reports from Bangladeshi media, The START Network, but also reported in primary sources on the ground such as the Chars Livelihood Project (CLP) FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg21

Reported impact on water infrastructure (% out of 207 Unions affected)

Many Some A few None

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0% Bogra Gaibandha Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Rangpur Sherpur Sirajganj Total 9 Unions 30 Unions 14 Unions 63 Unions 26 Unions 10 Unions 12 Unons 7 Unions 36 Unions 207 Unions

Figure 12: Drinking water points not functioning (by district)

6.1.2 SANITATION

Figure 13: Impact of sanitation as a result of the disaster

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg22

Reports from the BDRC indicate that inadequate sanitation facilities have caused many to defecate in the open including in water bodies which are also being used for drinking, hence contaminating pond waters and increasing the risks of spread of water‐borne illness.34

Table 8: Access to wash

Bogra Gaibandha Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Rangpur Sherpur Sirajganj Total Safe and private latrines for women 100% 96% 100% 98% 81% 100% 64% 100% 38% 83% and girls Safe and private latrines for men 89% 24% 27% 70% 29% 100% 91% 0% 24% 47% and boys Safe and private spaces to bath for 100% 88% 60% 70% 38% 20% 73% 86% 62% 67% women and girls Safe and private spaces to bath for 56% 24% 33% 35% 5% 20% 82% 0% 79% 40% men and boys Sufficient hygiene materials for 89% 88% 60% 68% 71% 20% 73% 100% 24% 64% women Safe and private places for women 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 9% 2% to breastfeed Number of union 9 25 15 57 21 5 11 7 34 184

6.1.3 HYGIENE As the figure above shows, there were 124 Unions reporting that there were no safe and private spaces for women and girls to bath and 74 reports of this as a concern for men and boys. In addition insufficient sanitary materials for women were noted in 117 Unions. These figures are significant as this is a sensitive question to ask and answer.

RECOMMENDATIONS The immediate response interventions being called for in existing reports and indicated by the available information are:  Improved and immediate access to safe drinking water. The most common solution sited is provision of water purification however mobile water treatment plants may also be considered  Temporary tube wells where people are displaced/raised tube wells  Temporary latrines in areas where people are displaced (particularly spontaneous settlements which currently have no sanitation at all and the fact that this is the most reported living arrangement for people who are displaced)  Temporary private places for women and girls to bath where people are displaced  Hygiene promotion  Distribution of hygiene kits and materials  Simple rainwater harvesting materials (containers) and information could be investigated although caution is advised to avoid further erosion with rain‐water harvesting systems on temporary shelters.

34 BDRCS report 25.08.2014 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg23

MID‐TERM RECOVERY NEEDS (ONCE WATER HAS RECEDED) APPEAR TO BE:  Rehabilitation of water‐points35  Repair of household latrines36

6.2 FOOD SECURITY & LIVELIHOODS

KEY FINDINGS  49% of unions reported issues with the ability to cook food and boil water  60% of unions reported food stock damaged/destroyed  Considering the pre‐crisis vulnerability (IPC Phase 237) and the impact on the livelihoods the situation could evolve negatively rapidly in the coming days and weeks especially if the water does not recede quickly enough and people are not able to begin self‐recovery livelihood activities  Short term food security appears more problematic than long‐term food security according to this JNA, however there will still be a significant impact on long term food security due to the impact on agriculture crop and livelihoods and it is possible that, for now, short term needs are an immediate priority but not less important than recovery. o 165 Unions reported concerns on the impact to immediate food security o 156 Unions reported concerns about the impact on long term food security  Much agricultural land is still under water and it appears that it is too late to plant Aman rice there  The biggest issue now is to ensure a winter (Boro) crop, as farmers are likely to have consumed any seed they had saved.  The most impacted groups are daily laborers (agricultural and non‐agricultural) and small and marginal farmers.

Table 9: Crop damage by district Impacts Districts Most reports of severe crop damage Bogra, Kurigram, Jamalpur, Sirajganj Most reports of losses of agricultural inputs Bogra, Sherpur Most reports of livestock losses Bogra Most reports of loss of fisheries Bogra, Kurigram

35 The WASH cluster noted in communication with the JNA team (September 2014) that it is difficult to predict the recovery period for WASH facilities as much of the work cannot begin until the dry season and water points are once again accessible 36 The WASH cluster noted in communication with the JNA team (September 2014) that it is difficult to predict the recovery period for household latrines for the same reason as noted above. 37Under the IPC, Phase 2 implies that the situation in an area is “stressed” this means that: At least one in five HHs in the area has the following or worse: Minimally adequate food consumption but are unable to afford some essential non‐food expenditures without engaging in irreversible coping strategies. See APPENDIX ix for more details FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg24

6.2.1 FOOD SECURITY According to the Inter Phase Classification (IPC) analysis the affected area was already classified as “phase 2” and in addition, the incidence of chronic poverty in the districts considered for this JNA is comparatively higher than other parts of the country.38 Elderly, child headed households, pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and those already relying on food aid (such as the VGF ‐ Vulnerable Group Feeding, a national safety nets programme) are the most vulnerable in terms of food security. This northern char region experiences frequent flooding, meaning that it is already vulnerable because of the frequent and ongoing need to recover from previous floods, and inability to fully recover before being impacted again. At the end of September 2012, Bogra, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Kurigram and Sirajganj (all areas affected now) were hit by floods during the lean season, impacting the harvest of Aman paddy. This was the 3rd flood in succession; after they had previously gone through 2 earlier floods at the end of June 2012 and mid‐July 2012.39 This needs to be considered in terms of the vulnerability of people living in these areas and their ability to “bounce back” from the present floods without resorting to negative coping mechanisms.

The timing of this August 2014 flooding coincides with the lean season or Monga40, following the harvesting of the aush crop and preceding the aman harvest in the Bangla months of Ashwin and Kartik (mid‐September to mid‐ November). Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilpharmari and Rangpur districts are severely affected by Monga41. Households affected by flooding in the same north–west region in September 2012 reported adopting the following coping strategies, which are commonly used during disaster42:

 Distress selling of assets.  Migration to non‐affected areas to work (e.g. as agricultural day labour, rickshaw puller, household help and non‐agricultural day labour).  Advance selling of labour.  Taking loans from NGOs and Mohajans (local money lenders) and borrowing from relatives.  Reduction of meal frequency and meal size.

Figure 14: Market function

38 Centre for social studies, Dhaka – Monga article 39 FSC Rapid FSA Northwestern Flooding_Oct2012 40 The monga refers to a yearly cyclical phenomenon of poverty and hunger in Bangladesh. It refers to two times per year, from September‐November (after the aman crop is planted) and from March‐April (after the boro crop is planted). During these periods, there are fewer available job opportunities for rural workers, resulting in lower household incomes. 41 Centre for social studies, Dhaka – Monga article 42 JNA SDR River Flooding March 2014 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg25

129 unions reported damaged food stocks:  Severe damage in 27 unions (13% of affected unions)  Moderate damage in 55 unions (26% of affected unions)

Market functionality, stocks of food in markets and access to markets were reported as problematic in this assessment. Markets are fully functioning in 106 unions and partially functioning in 94 unions. For markets that are functioning, stocks are available in all 94 unions, but people face challenges in accessing some of these markets (71 out of the 106 unions reported challenges in accessing markets). In terms of partially damaged markets, people can access in 23 unions, but food stocks are only available in the markets of 3 unions (see Figure 14).

 165 unions reported concerns on the impact to immediate food security  156 unions reported concerns about the impact on long term food security  104 unions reported that households presently (at time of JNA assessment) did not have the ability to easily cook and prepare food.

Table 10: Number of unions per district reporting yes to following questions

Total Bogra Sherpur Rangpur Sirajgonj Jamalpur Kurigram Gaibandha Nilphamari Lalmonirhat

Q.34 Likely to have an effect 13 1 51 7 23 8 34 13 6 156 on long term food security Q.35 Immediate food 17 0 51 8 21 9 35 16 7 165 security impacted Q.36 Household’s ability to 16 10 22 6 11 0 21 11 7 104 cook

Total Number of Unions 28 10 63 12 30 9 36 20 7 215 Assessed in Each district

6.2.2 LIVELIHOODS In all affected districts agriculture, agricultural processing (mainly rice), livestock rearing and fishing represent the main livelihood activities. All these activities appear to be heavily impacted by the floods. Small and marginal farmers, agricultural day labourers and non‐agricultural day labourers were identified by Union authorities and assessment teams as the livelihoods most likely to be most affected.

Across the 9 districts female headed households are 7.8% of the total number of households and, as past disaster events have shown, will be especially vulnerable to any shocks to livelihood.43

43 BBS – Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2009 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg26

In this region the major employment opportunity is agricultural labour, and off‐farm income for the unskilled rural poor is restricted to the brickfields, the rice and saw mills, earth works and rickshaw pulling. Further investigation is needed to understand the impact of the floods on these other forms of income generation.

Reported Livelihoods mostly affected (% out of 213 unions affected)

Agri. Day labour Small and marginal farmers Non‐agricultural day labour Medium & big farmers

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Bogra Gaibandha Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Rangpur Sherpur Sirajganj Total 9 Unions 30 Unions 20 Unions 63 Unions 26 Unions 10 Unions 12 Unions 7 Unions 36 Unions 213 Unions

Figure 15: Q.37 Livelihood groups likely to be most affected (Note multiple responses could be selected by each union, so percentages for each district total to >100%)

From previous disasters and floods in this region, lessons learned have shown that employment generation through cash grant assistance to vulnerable population was appropriate for affected communities for bridging the gap between the immediate impact of the floods and the recovery phase by providing resources that allowed households to make their own decisions for re‐building livelihoods.44. An assessment of floods in 2013 found that many households in the affected north‐west districts took loans directly after floods with the greatest use of loans for recovery being in in Jamalpur, Gaibandha and Bogra. If assistance is not timely, this negative coping strategy is likely to be repeated.

Long term recovery measures can encourage adoption of more than two livelihood options per household through proper identification and selection of potential options through a market analysis. Diversification of household livelihood options, including both farm and off farm work, will also serve as a risk reduction mechanism. Schemes to support investment in livelihood options through group savings and repayment could be considered. The use of group savings could serve as working capital for initiating new Income Generation Activities (IGAs), as well as being a potential risk fund to be used before or after floods and other disasters.45

44FSC North West floods summary April 2013 45FSC North West floods summary April 2013 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg27

6.2.3 AGRICULTURE

6.2.3.1 CROPS AND HORTICULTURE The main crops for the region are: rice (including local Boro rice, Aman and Aus) mainly grown in lowland areas, adjacent to water bodies; sugarcane, millet, wheat, sweet potato, ground nut, chilli, khesheri, legumes, and other crops are grown in the medium and highland areas.46

The flood has caused damage to ready‐to‐harvest Aus paddy fields47 as well as damage to standing Aman paddy crops which were to be harvested in November. It appears that it is too late to plant aman rice which will result in reduced demand for wage labour for several months, resulting in a prolonged lean season. 48,49 The biggest issue now is to ensure a winter (boro) crop, as farmers are likely to have consumed any seed they had saved.

The wage rate of agricultural day labourers is usually low and there are limited employment opportunities. During a typical lean season, male agricultural day labourers manage to find work on average only 5‐15 days per month, while female agricultural day labourers get almost no work or a maximum of 10 days of work monthly. The daily wage rate during this time is generally low compared to peak season (during planting and harvesting). A reduction in the agricultural wage would substantially reduce the purchasing capacity of the vulnerable households and negatively affect their food security and nutrition status.50

There are no reported local means to generate alternative income for marginal, landless farmers and day labourers. Farmers may resort to borrowing money with high interest rates to invest in next planting season. If farmers are not ready for plantation of upcoming crops, such as wheat and Boro, due to lack of capital, the agricultural day labourers will find even less employment opportunities. This can force out‐migration of men and in some case women to urban areas often keeping their dependents in village in the hope of sending remittances. Negative coping strategies such as distress sale of movable property and livestock have been reported in past disasters, as has an increase in the number of underage people joining the labour market. 51,52

In addition, the upcoming cold wave in could have a significant impact on crop agriculture (in particular the boro harvest), extending the lean season even further, as was the case in 2013.53

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), standing Aman crop on over 25,000 hectares of land has remained submerged in the flood‐hit areas of these districts on the Brahmaputra basin. Affected farmers of these areas will have no option to re‐transplant the Aman seed, thus this standing crop will be lost. In Gaibandha, standing crops on 1,921 hectares of land, including Transplanted Aman on 1,670 hectares, Aman seedbed on 106 hectares, Aus crop on100 hectares and vegetables on 45 hectares of land have been submerged so far. In Kurigram, standing crops on 17,221

46Natural resources institute – Char Livelihoods review 2005 47 BDRCS Flood Situation Update 25 August 2014 48FSC Rapid Food security assessment ‐ Northwestern Flooding Oct2012 49 FAO cropping data 50FSC Rapid Food security assessment ‐ Northwestern Flooding Oct2012 51FSC Rapid Food security assessment ‐ Northwestern Flooding Oct2012 52FAO Crop calendars 53 JNA SDR Cold Wave March 2014 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg28

hectares of land, including Transplanted Aman on 16,527 hectares, Aman seedbed on 285 hectares, Aus on 143 hectares and vegetables on 266 hectares of land have remained under floodwater.54

Reported Severity of crop damage (% out of 213 unions affected)

Severe Moderate Low None

100% 90%

80%

70% 60%

50% 40%

30% 20% 10%

0% Bogra Gaibandha Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Rangpur Sherpur Sirajganj Total 9 Unions 30 Unions 20 Unions 63 Unions 26 Unions 10 Unions 12 Unions 7 Unions 36 Unions 213 Unions

Figure 16: Severity of damage of the major crop (Q.38)

Reported Losses agriculture inputs (% out of 213 Unions affected)

Severe Moderate Low None

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0% Bogra Gaibandha Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Rangpur Sherpur Sirajganj Total 9 Unions 30 Unions 20 Unions 63 Unions 26 Unions 10 Unions 12 Unions 7 Unions 36 Unions 213 Unions

Figure 17: Losses of Agricultural inputs (Q.39).

54 Disaster Forum Report 25 August 2014 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg29

6.2.3.2 LIVESTOCK Livestock are a key asset for the people living on the chars. They not only offer a means of adding value to the grasses that grow on recently accreted land before cultivation is possible, but they are also a mobile asset in the face of erosion that is a key feature of life on the chars (if you lose land you lose crops, but you can take your livestock with you). Cattle and goats are the main types of livestock in the chars and in peak floods moving cattle to higher land, such as an embankment, is a problem for char households. Meanwhile lack of shelter, storage of fodder, transportation and a shortage of funds can result in the sale of these important productive household assets.55

Current data on the numbers of livestock in the region was not available at the time of writing.

Many marginalized people who have recently started a livestock rearing programme with the support of an NGO loan will face difficulties keeping the livestock due to the lack of availability of fodder. Sales of livestock at this time will be at low prices and the alternative, of attempting to keep the animal and purchasing fodder, will be at higher than usual cost.

The most reports of severe levels of death among livestock have been from Unions in Bogra and Rangpur. More detailed information on the number of livestock, the rate of vaccination and specific livestock vulnerabilities after flooding would help in understanding how to support owners, but at the time of writing this was not available.

Reported Death/loss livestock (out of 213 affected unions)

Severe Moderate Low None

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Bogra Gaibandha Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Rangpur Sherpur Sirajganj Total 9 Unions 30 Unions 20 Unions 63 Unions 26 Unions 10 Unions 12 Unions 7 Unions 36 Unions 213 Unions

Figure 18: Q.40 Death or loss of livestock or poultry

55 Natural Resources Institute – Char Livelihoods review 2005 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg30

6.2.3.3 AQUACULTURE

Unlike most other livelihood assets, access to fish tends to improve in high flood years. Although during the peak of the flood strong river currents may prevent fishing, fish catches are positively correlated with flood levels.56 However, in this flood there have been reports of impact on fish farms, with severe damage to fisheries reported by: 56% of affected unions in Bogra; 41% of unions in Kurigram and 33% of unions in Sirajganj. No baseline fisheries and aquaculture data, or detailed data on the impact on fisheries was available at the drafting.

Reported Damage to fisheries (% out of 213 affected Unions)

Severe Moderate Low None

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0% Bogra Gaibandha Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Rangpur Sherpur Sirajganj Total 9 Unions 30 Unions 20 Unions 63 Unions 26 Unions 10 Unions 12 Unions 7 Unions 36 Unions 213 Unions

Figure 19: Q.41 Damage to fisheries

RECOMMENDATIONS In the short term:  Provision of cash for investment in cultivation57,58,59  Food security responses should focus on the most vulnerable unions in Bogra, Sirajganj, Kurigram districts  In terms of food security support, a cash transfer approach appears relevant in areas where markets are functional. Based on past events, markets have been found to recover quickly.  Food and/or cash distribution among the most vulnerable marginal and small farming families may need to be explored during the lean season  Shelter for livestock and poultry  Overall, in terms of agriculture a rapid mobilization to identify beneficiaries is required, as well as contracts in place for seed, fertilizer and services to distribute it; and a system for training and monitoring

56 Natural Resources Institute – Char Livelihoods review 2005 57 IFRC report on Northwest flood – Sept 2012 58 FSC Rapid Food security assessment – Oct 2012 59FSC NW Floods Follow Up Assessment ‐ April 2013 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg31

 If there is no available land for the seed bed preparation, provide support for floating seed cultivation60  Boro rice seed distribution for planting in November/December (maybe slightly earlier than they would have normally)  Immediate survey, maintenance and/or replacement of the existing agricultural machinery to speed up land preparation  Assessment of and then rehabilitation of irrigation facilities that may have become degraded or been destroyed  Consideration of alternative crops – a winter maize, wheat or mustard crop could be an option, as could short duration winter vegetables (with appropriate support to farmers who may be less familiar with this than rice)

The key government counterpart is the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). The most recent similar collaboration between FAO and DAE was in 2012, when the late monsoon floods in Sirajganj washed away the Aman crop. Lessons learned and estimated caseloads from this response will be used in planning.

MID‐TERM RECOVERY NEEDS (ONCE WATER HAS RECEDED) APPEAR TO BE:  Interventions to consider lessons learned from previous programs in flooded areas61  Support for next cultivation based on expert sectoral knowledge about the specific types of crops that could be grown under current conditions.62  Further implementation of submergence tolerant rice varieties, through which farm households of flood prone areas in northern Bangladesh can get available seeds of these rice varieties to ensure a good harvest in future Aman seasons63.

6.3 SHELTER

KEY FINDINGS  Shelter was reported as a concern in 160 unions. This includes unions in all districts covered by the assessment  232,236 people are displaced according to the JNA assessment  In the affected unions, most displaced people are living in spontaneous settlements  Displacement appears to be most severe in Kurigram and Sirajgonj. Kurigram (52 % of total displaced people) and Sirajgonj (21 % of total displaced people) have the highest numbers of displaced people  According to the DMIC sit rep of 4th September, 2014 of, the following number of damaged houses were reported 64:

60 FAO/Food security cluster 61 FRIEND reports and FSC Food Security Assessment (October 2012) and Follow Up (April 2013) 62 FAO/Food security cluster 63 Input from FAO/Food security cluster 64 DMIC, Situation Report, Countrywide Inundation Situation, 4th September, 2014. The report mentions damages to houses in 20 districts but only those included above overlap with the scope of this JNA. In total, across Bangladesh this Sitrep reports that over 600,000 houses are either fully or partially damaged. FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg32

Table 11: House damage as a result of the disaster Houses partially District Houses fully damaged Total houses affected damaged Gaibandha 7,453 9,621 17,074 Kurigram 4,506 66,893 71,399 Sirajganj 2,960 19,342 22,302 Bogra 7, 230 19,051 26,281 Nilphamari 260 3,452 3,712 Lalmonirhat 839 10,198 11,037 Jamalpur 66 1,466 1,532 Total 16,314 110,682 153,337

Shelter, especially in the context of a vulnerable, overpopulated country like Bangladesh, is more than a mere roof to cover people and protect them from the elements. It needs to be viewed as is a holistic concept of interlinked issues which collectively influence lives. These factors include; physical safety and security, privacy, comfort, health and well‐being and they are, by their nature, difficult to measure particularly in a rapid assessment.65 In Northern Bangladesh houses are mostly built of mud, wood and bamboo which are very susceptible to floods and flash floods. Prior to the flooding, the majority of shelters in all of the districts affected are ‘kutcha’ (mud wall) construction66. The Northern Char lands (within the assessed area) are very susceptible to erosion which can cause the complete wash off of Semi‐pucka Kutcha Jhupri Pucka houses and properties 67 . Char houses are mainly small and built 100% from locally available grasses, these 80% need to be replaced regularly but 60% they are adapted to floods and erosion because they can be 40% dismantled and moved. Floods in 20% the range of 0.5‐1m above plinth 0% level tend to result in the total loss of kutcha (mud) house walls. Loss of walls may permit floods to flow through a house, but such houses do not offer safe refuge for people 68 Figure 20: Predominant shelter types based on census data 2011 or animals.

65 Shelter cluster (communication with the JNA team, September 2014) 66 Census 2011 67 Shelter cluster (communication with JNA team, August 2014) 68 Natural Resources Institute ‐ Char Livelihoods review August – 2005 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg33

Table 12: Shelter Types in Bangladesh Pucca Fully brick structures Semi‐ Floors and/or walls made of brick and the rest made from tin pucca (metallic sheet) Kutcha Floors made of soil and roof and walls made of tin Jhupri Floors made from soil and roof/walls made from bamboo

Displacement should not be seen as the only determinant of the need for shelter assistance, however it can be an indication of the need for immediate assistance. From discussions with Union officials in the 215 affected Unions, the following numbers of people have been found to be displaced from their homes: Table 13: Affected populations

% of Number of Number of % of Total Population affected people HH displaced population affected people displaced displaced people Bogra 183 499 111 239 61% 20 300 5 553 11% Gaibandha 818 354 337 459 41% 9 408 2 296 1% Jamalpur 481 502 140 610 29% 11 250 2 540 2% Kurigram 1 632 319 642 264 39% 122 911 28 253 8% Lalmonirhat 714 867 81 091 11% 6 586 1 289 1% Nilphamari 257 076 15 815 6% 183 40 0% Rangpur 339 742 64 603 19% 14 607 3 574 4% Sherpur 196 074 50 876 26% 102 24 0% Sirajganj 988 690 423 679 43% 46 889 11 350 5% Total 5 612 123 1 867 636 33% 232 236 54 919 4%

Shelter reported as an issue (% out of 215 affected unions)

Total 215 Unions Sirajganj 36 Unions Sherpur 7 Unions Rangpur 12 Unions Nilphamari 10 unions Lalmonirhat 28 Unions Kurigram 63 Unions Jamalpur 20 Unions Gaibandha 30 Unions Bogra 9 Unions

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% % of union

Figure 21: Shelter reported as an issue

FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg34

Ulipur, Char Rajibupr and ChilmariUpazillas (in Kurigram district) have the most displaced people overall.

Table 14: Reported living arrangement since the disaster. (Q12.05)

Bogra Gaibandha Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Rangpur Sherpur Sirajganj Total Spontaneous settlement 100% 35% 76% 54% 70% 22% 86% 67% 64% 55% Original home 33% 27% 35% 43% 33% 56% 43% 83% 53% 35% Collective centre 0% 62% 18% 26% 7% 0% 43% 0% 28% 23% Original village (house damaged) 44% 12% 12% 31% 4% 44% 43% 67% 61% 27% Formal Camp 0% 58% 6% 16% 7% 0% 0% 0% 11% 15% Other* 22% 46% 35% 30% 33% 0% 57% 0% 42% 33% Number of union 9 26 17 61 27 9 7 6 36 198

*‘Other’ category mainly refers to relative’s or neighbouring houses 69,70.

Living conditions are poor in the affected districts and is likely to worsen in many areas as the rain continues and flood levels increase 71 . Confirming the JNA findings, NGO reports also indicate that people are displaced by the floodwaters and sheltering on embankments, high ground, roads, in schools, in flood shelters and the houses of neighbors and relatives. Wherever possible they have taken their household assets, poultry and livestock with them.

In some locations (Dimla Upazila, Nilphamari District), people were reportedly72 living on rooftops, on wooden cots raised by bamboo poles, or on rafts made of bamboo.73

Once the flood waters recede houses are expected to be in need of major repairs and /or rebuilding. Erosion, which is already an underlying concern in the area, is thought likely to have increased74. The plinths of the houses which are traditionally built of mud are most likely to have been washed away making the houses prone to collapse.75

Figure 22: Total number of people displaced

69 As reported by assessment teams who are required to note the explanation of “other” 70 Multiple responses could be selected by each union, so percentages for each district total to >100% 71 BDRCS Report. 72 Muslim Aid Situation report No 191 – 18 August 2014 73 Daily Star newspaper report 17 August 2014 74 Char Livelihoods Programme – Status update – 27‐08‐14 75 BDRCS report FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg35

The likely onset of the regular cold wave in December poses significant risks for the flood affected districts, in particular – Nilphamari, Kurigram, Rangpur, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat (5 of the 9 flood affected districts included in this assessment) – these districts are known to be usually among the most impacted by the cold wave, and were affected by the cold waves in Dec 2013. The present flooding is likely to have increased the numbers living in inadequate housing and these people are likely to be severely affected if their homes cannot be repaired or rebuilt before the cold months76 (see Figure 23).

Shelter was reported as an issue by 100% of unions assessed in Bogra and Rangpur districts. In Kurigram, 6 unions reported that “many” households were in need of immediate shelter assistance77. This reflects the needs of people who are displaced to spontaneous settlements and also those staying in or near their original houses that have been destroyed or damaged by the floods. Figure 23: Cold wave and flooding affected districts

Table 15: Q.26: Approximate number of households in need of immediate shelter?

Bogra Gaibandha Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Rangpur Sherpur Sirajganj None 0 6 5 23 8 7 4 3 1 A few 6 20 12 28 16 3 6 3 29 Some 2 3 3 6 2 0 1 1 3 Many 0 0 0 6 0 0 1 0 3 Do not know 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 Total Number of unions 9 30 15 62 23 10 12 7 36

76JNA SDR Cold Wave March 2014 77 This range is determined because the JNA questionnaire asked for respondents to use a range in answering to this question (q 26). None, a few (1‐25%), some (26‐50%), many (50‐100%). FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg36

RECOMMENDATIONS Ideally shelter assistance to people living in spontaneous settlements or outside their original, but damaged, homes would be provided as an emergency shelter kit to make a temporary shelter with materials that could be re‐used in rebuilding houses or direct support to repair homes, or a combination of both. Current protection from the elements is reported as non‐existent or very inadequate.

The geographic context in the affected districts can make it difficult to access remote communities, to transport materials (due to damaged roads, and limited or expensive ferry travel) and to access materials78. As such, if it is confirmed that materials are available locally a cash based response should be considered.

The capacity for families to reconstruct and repair their houses is closely linked to other initiatives involving agricultural support and livelihood support. Employment and household income will have a significant impact on families being able to rebuild their homes.

IN THE SHORT TERM:  Emergency shelter response from government and I/NGO should focus on people displaced and those with fully damaged shelters (ensuring that transitional shelter responses include landless families, the most vulnerable members of the community)79. The shelter cluster recommends that households with fully damaged shelters be considered as a priority group for government and non‐government Cash for Work initiatives and other cash based assistance to ensure regular income generation which can enable them to repair and reconstruct their shelter. 80  Response to consider ongoing monsoon, and the need to address vulnerabilities in timely manner before onset of cold wave in Dec 201481  Rebuilding or repairing of houses or cash grant should include shelter for the livestock and additional cost for the labor.82  Inclusion of vulnerable groups including female headed households, disabled, older persons and the landless need to be consider during delivery of shelter or cash for shelter.  Emphasis should be given to the use of local resources, including labour and materials, during any shelter related intervention.

MID‐TERM RECOVERY NEEDS (ONCE WATER HAS RECEDED) APPEAR TO BE:  As both damage to shelter and damage to household sanitation and latrines have been reported, it can be assumed that that when the house is damaged/destroyed, the latrine is also affected. For this reason it is advised that the shelter response should be coordinated with WASH and early recovery; in particular shelter interventions should be well coordinated with sanitation rehabilitation.  Advocacy around colonization of newly formed lands by those who have lost lands in other areas, as well as advocacy for provision of land by government.  In case of rebuilding of houses in new locations, sites should be assessed so that, as far as possible, building takes place on areas that are free of the risk from further erosion.

78 JNA SDR River flooding March 2014 79 JNA SDR River Flooding March 2014 80 Shelter cluster (communication with JNA team, September 2014) 81 JNA SDR Cold Wave March 2014 82 Shelter cluster (communication with JNA team, August 2014) FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg37

 Shelter recommendations should be suitable for the specific areas and consider the flooding risk in design. Rebuilding of shelter needs to follow build back better methods to achieve a resilient house structure.

6.4 EDUCATION

KEY FINDINGS  Many educational institutes including primary schools and high schools are reported to have been temporarily shut down because of the flood waters30  The most frequently cited reason for schools not being operational is that the schools are not accessible (130 Unions reported this out of the 215 affected)  The next most cited reason was infrastructure damage (reported 75 times).  It is unclear at this point if schools that are closed due to infrastructure damage are closed because the school itself is flooded or because the land the school is situation on has been made unsafe due to riverbank erosion. This requires different responses and will require further investigation. 83

A total of 146 unions reported education as an issue as a result of the floods, with 97% of unions in Sirajganj and 78% of unions in Bogra reporting it as an issue, making these the worst affected districts for education.

Table 16: Education affected as a result of the emerggency Number of Unions Total Number of Percent of Total Unions where Number of Unions where education is an education is schools Assessed issue affected Bogra 194 7 9 78% Gaibandha 678 20 30 67% Jamalpur 449 15 20 75% Kurigram 1439 46 63 73% Lalmonirhat 691 13 28 46% Nilphamari 270 0 10 0% Rangpur 312 5 12 42% Sherpur 175 5 7 71% Sirajganj 1007 35 36 97% Total 5215 146 215

83 Education cluster communication with JNA Team, August 2014. FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg38

Table 17: Number of unions reporting how many schools/education institutions are not functioning because of the disaster? (Q.44).

Bogra Gaibandha Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Rangpur Sherpur Sirajganj None 2 10 0 18 10 10 7 3 3 A few 2 10 9 30 13 0 5 4 18 Some 0 5 3 4 0 0 0 0 7 Many 5 5 3 8 0 0 0 0 8 Do not know 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 Total Number of unions 9 30 15 62 23 10 12 7 36

In Bogra, 5 out of 9 of union officials identified that “many” schools/educational institutes within their union are not functioning, and in Sirajganj 8 out ot 36 of union officials identified that “many” schools/educational institutes are not functioning.84 The main reasons reported for Schools not functioning is that they are inaccessible or have infrastructure damage. Inaccessible schools were reported in 39 unions in Kurigram and 29 unions in Sirajganj. Infrastructure damage was reported in 27 unions in Kurigram and 16 unions in Sirajganj.

Table 18: Reasons education facility is not functioning (Unions specified all reasons that are applicable, i.e. more than one answer.)

not

materials know

teachers students

No No Infrastructure damage Study damaged School accessible Don't Bogra 0 0 6 2 9 1 Gaibandha 1 3 11 5 19 5 Jamalpur 0 3 5 0 15 2 Kurigram 4 4 27 3 39 11 Lalmonirhat 3 3 4 2 11 2 Nilphamari 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rangpur 0 0 3 2 4 0 Sherpur 0 0 3 0 4 0 Sirajganj 2 5 16 5 29 3 Total Number of 10 18 75 19 130 24 Reports from Unions

84 The reason that a range is presented here is because the JNA questionnaire asked for respondents to use a range in answering to this question (q 44). None, a few (1‐25%), some (26‐50%), many (50‐100%). FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg39

SECTOR SUMMARY A significant impediment in adequately understanding the magnitude of the impact of any disaster on education is the absence of easily available baseline figures of the number of different types of education facilities. There is also limited documentation of lessons learned about successful education interventions specific to Bangladesh and specific to flooding.85

UNICEF, Save the Children and the education cluster already have planned, with government counterparts, to determine more information on the specific locations of damaged schools. They will look to the JNA data at the individual union level to support this.

Schools in Kurigram, Jamalpur, Bogra, Sirajganj, Gaibandha were mentioned in various reports as being closed, relocated, inundated and damaged due to flooding. The UNICEF zone office in the area are reporting that show that 139 primary schools and 134 other education institutes are closed.86

Education facilities are frequently impacted whenever a disaster in Bangladesh results in displacement because school buildings are often used as shelters for displaced households. This means students are unable to attend school while people are residing in school buildings and also often results in damage to school buildings.

In the 2007 flood, At least 19% of schools in both flood and cyclone areas experienced over four weeks of school closure87.

In addition to the fact that their schools may be inoperable due to damage caused by flood waters, or being used as shelters for displaced people, children’s attendance at school decreases or becomes irregular after disaster in Bangladesh due to a range of factors including loss of learning materials, temporary relocation (displacement), difficulties accessing the school building and structure as well as the need to engage in family income generation88. Lessons learned from past disasters indicate that if poor/vulnerable families are impacted in terms of livelihoods and shelter, children are at risk of missing school due to the need to support their family. Where cash for work programmes did not consider conditions for families with school age children (e.g. a requirement of a certain number of days of attendance by school age children), programmes were not successful in promoting continuity of education. 89

Overall, at least 3% of the students have been found to drop out of school as a direct result of floods and cyclones, with a negligible gender difference. However as they get older, girl children, especially in class four and five, face specific challenges accessing education during disasters due to: household responsibilities; early marriage; and privacy related issues such as absence of separate toilets in the school90.

85 JNA Project Pre‐disaster Secondary data ‐ River flooding ‐ March 2014 (Plan and Save the Children 2010) 86 Education cluster communication. 87JNA Project Pre‐disaster Secondary data ‐ River flooding ‐ March 2014 88JNA Project Pre‐disaster Secondary data ‐ River flooding ‐ March 2014 89Study Report on AILA Affected School DRAFT, Report prepared by EIE Team Save the Children UK 90 Plan and Save the Children International 2010 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg40

Lessons learned from past disasters have shown that children’s mental well‐being is significantly improved if they are able to process and release stress through structured play91 . In the initial aftermath of the 2007 floods, an estimated 1.5 million children, or around 10% of the country’s 80,000 primary schools had been affected92. This indicates stakeholders in the education sector should watch the flood situation closely and be ready for a potentially significant response.

A key feature in restoring schools functionality and participation as soon as possible appears (from past experience in other kinds of disasters) to be the role of School Management Committees (SMCs).93

LESSONS LEARNED FOR THE AREA ALSO INDICATE94:  In the affected areas if the schools are not affected by flood or riverbank erosion the schools are likely to be used as shelter/relief distribution centers.  The duration of the school closure usually not correctly recorded. Hence, the loss of student’s contact hours is not presented accurately.  Continuation of Education in alternative arrangements is the responsibility of the School Management Committee; yet proper documentation is not formalized and education loss is not recognized.  School Management Committees should have access to funds from local primary education offices for running alternative education services however, formal guidelines on how these funds should be generated, and used in the event of an emergency do not exist.  A large number of schools are located in char areas that are very hard to reach and thus receive less attention.  Floods are known to have a longer term impact on education than cyclones.

RECOMMENDATIONS  In the short term, the Education line departments should continue to request local education officials to work with communities for identifying alternative learning spaces, wherever possible, that are safe for children to continue their education. Local education officials should also guide closed schools in adapting their academic calendar to accommodate for shortened contact hours during the flooding.  The Education Cluster needs to coordinate with the Child Protection Cluster to ensure that children continue their education in child friendly places. These short term recommendations are likely to include the need for learning materials and improved WASH in Schools for both teachers and students.  For schools occupied as shelters, the management of the shelter should ensure to safeguard education materials and allocate time and space for children to continue education activities, even if only for a couple hours a day.  If school accessibility is possible through water transport, this will be explored by local education officials with the support of the cluster partners to provide safe transportation to schools that can still operate. 95

91 Save the Children 2007 ‐ https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/resources/online‐library/watermarks‐child‐protection‐during‐ floods‐in‐bangladesh 92 IRIN 2007 ‐ http://www.irinnews.org/fr/report/73833/bangladesh‐over‐4‐000‐primary‐schools‐closed‐by‐floods 93Study Report on AILA Affected School DRAFT, Report prepared by EIE Team Save the Children UK 94 Education cluster communication with JNA Team August 2014 95Education Cluster communication with JNA Team August 2014. FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg41

MID‐TERM RECOVERY NEEDS (ONCE WATER HAS RECEDED) APPEAR TO BE:  A more detailed stocktaking of the number of educational facilities (by type) that have been damaged due to the floods and river erosion and the teaching and learning materials lost so these can be repaired and replaced.  Activate SMCs96 to lead the coordination of in school rehabilitation and construction of temporary learning spaces in close collaboration with local education officials and LGED. Education Cluster partners on the ground should support the local education officials in providing guidance to SMCs on different funding mechanisms within the government. Education Cluster to support education line departments with gap analysis and resource mobilization to meet funding gaps97.  Ensure connectivity of the education institutions and alternative learning arrangements with any Cash for Work or other cash based responses in the cleanup and aftermath rehabilitation of the floods, to build in incentives for increasing access to school institutions and subsequently allow for children to regularly attend school.

6.5 PROTECTION

SECTOR SUMMARY The JNA phase 1 format does not provide primary data on protection issues. Some information that is collected includes that on the availability of private latrines, bathing spaces and spaces to breast feed. These can be seen as proxy indicators of protection issues that can arise if the situation continues or deteriorates. Protection is thus closely linked to WASH, displacement, and shelter.

Past disasters in Bangladesh have highlighted the following key lessons learned:  If there is displacement to spontaneous settlements and collective centres it is important that safe and private latrines are constructed and made available to women/girls.  Women have been known to suffer from skin diseases and other infections because they are often bathing in stagnant water in order to seek privacy.  If shelter interventions (supporting reconstruction etc) take place it is critical to consider “invisible groups” such as female headed households, elderly and disabled who will require labour support as well as cash/shelter materials.  Displacement to spontaneous settlements can bring about risks to children of traffic accidents and drowning if stagnant water remains because often the available space is limited. This has been the case in past disasters because of the limited space available and the proximity of these settlements to both roads and water.  Older persons and persons with disability are regularly left out of recovery efforts including livelihood assistance.  Ensuring access to information for all is critical as this is sometimes only passed on to men or controlled by men thus leaving other groups without sufficient information to make safe and appropriate decisions.

96 In primary schools, the SMC’s are responsible for education in emergencies as per the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Directorate of Primary Education School Management Committee guidelines 97 Education Cluster communication with JNA Team September 2014. FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg42

RECOMMENDATIONS  Protection be seen as a cross cutting issue in all interventions.  Look to past lessons on the incidence of gender based violence for understanding potential risks.  Consider messages related to self‐protection in Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities (CDAC) response.

6.6 NUTRITION

KEY FINDINGS  Although not highlighted in the JNA findings as a major concern, lessons learned in past disasters have indicated that safe and private places to breastfeed are normally an issue after disasters in Bangladesh. The lack of reporting this as a concern may be because of the dominance of male assessment teams and the use of the Union Chairmen as key informants. This was only expressed as a concern in 3 Unions of Sirajganj but should not be overlooked as a potential issue.  The combination of the pre‐crisis vulnerability in relation to nutrition and the impact on food and livelihood may have an impact on child feeding practices that could further compromise nutrition if not addressed quickly.

SECTOR SUMMARY While the initial days and weeks after a relatively sudden onset disaster are too soon to see a change in nutritional status, the assessment allowed some for primary data collection on factors that may aggravate the nutrition situation. These include; food security, livelihoods, disease, hygiene/sanitation and shelter98. These features should be combined with pre‐existing knowledge on vulnerabilities and seasonality to understand the likely impact on nutrition.

The monsoon period represents the most nutritionally vulnerable season for the affected districts. The main aggravating factors that increase population vulnerability during this period include the following:  high morbidity rates,  poor food security at the household level,  sub optimal infant and young child feeding practices,  limited availability of diversified foods in remote areas due to irregular markets and food production characteristics,  inconsistent access for the households to nutritious foods,  knowledge gaps and/or application of the same related to appropriate complementary feeding,  poor hygiene and child care practices and insufficient availability of clean water99.

The combined effect of these aggravating factors could easily lead to a rapid deterioration of the nutrition status of affected populations especially with pre‐crisis under nutrition rates levels being already at alert levels (IPC Phase 2)100, Based on Food Consumption Score (FCS) and Individual Dietary Diversity Score (IDDS), in Bangladesh Rangpur division (along with Barisal) has the highest proportion of households with poor food consumption.101

98 UNICEF 2000, Basic causal model of undernutrition 99 Nutrition cluster communications with JNA Team, August 2014 100 IPC 2 –“‘Stressed’ which implies many households have pre‐crisis, existing food consumption gaps with relatively high levels of acute malnutrition. See, 2013‐ Bangladesh Integrated Food Security Phase Classification 101Pilot IPC Chronic food insecurity Analysis Map of Bangladesh November 2013 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg43

Under‐nutrition rates are seen to fluctuate over seasons with peaks during the monsoon period in Bangladesh (May – August). Any impact that the floods have on livelihoods will present a risk to the nutritional status of women and children (who are always the most vulnerable in terms of nutrition in Bangladesh) if the conditions are severe and persistent. From the FSNSP data, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat have the worst pre‐existing nutritional vulnerabilities, compared to the national average, so it is significant that these are the flooded areas at present with significant damage reported to livelihood and food stocks.

Table 19: Nutrition data extracted from census 2011 Individual Dietary Nutritional status of children under 5 Food Consumption Diversity Index years Score (IDDI) District Women consumed Global Acute Global underweight Poor or Borderline inadequate food Malnutrition groups (<=4) Bogra 11% 38% 15% 65% Gaibandha 15% 40% 22% 68% Jamalpur 16% 41% 19% 62% Kurigram 9% 34% 32% 74% Lalmonirhat 11% 32% 35% 73% Sirajganj 11% 37% 22% 69% Rangpur Sherpur 13.2% 47% Nilphamari NATIONAL 12% 35% 22% 69% AVERAGE

Even during normal situations, the food security within households is usually poor during the monsoon period. Diets during the monsoon period are usually characterized by low diversity and adequacy102. The FSNSP103 indicates dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet are at 32% among children aged 6‐23 months. Decreased access to diversified foods linked to damaged crops and horticulture due to floods, can worsen complementary feeding in young children during their critical growth and development. With the flooding, it is expected that the situation could worsen as the availability of diverse foods is expected to be limited.

Major nutrition concerns for the affected populations are: ‐ Limited availability of foods in quality and quantity. ‐ The household diet of the affected population is likely to have deteriorated as food sources are likely to have changed. ‐ Limited availability of cooking facilities and materials due to inundation. ‐ Infant and young child feeding practices remain a serious concern for households due to the challenging environment. ‐ Negative impact on health facilities and accessibility to health facilities which can also have an impact on young child care and nutrition

102 Nutrition cluster 103 FSNSP 2011 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg44

‐ The DMIC 104reports indicate official reporting of 1239 cases of diarrhoea in the affected districts from 19th – 27th August, and access to safe drinking water has been reported as a major concern by the JNA as well as other reports on the situation.

The four key factors that can predict the risk of the situation deteriorating (and thus suggest that an increase in Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) is likely) include: increase in morbidity, decrease in food security, significant population displacement and population density. The initial findings presented in this report need to be complemented by a monitoring of ongoing outcomes across these four factors.105

RECOMMENDATIONS In the short term:  Rapid nutrition screening of affected population to establish the nutritional status (currently ongoing in Kurigram district), and current breastfeeding practices106  Children identified as severely malnourished should be referred to hospitals that are providing management at district and/or Upazilla levels.  Advocacy should take place with all partners involved in providing food assistance around including provision of nutrient rich and fortified foods for women and children (e.g. improved, diverse food basket including high energy biscuits, lentils, fortified oil with Vitamin A. etc)107  In addition nutrition sensitive strategies should be mainstreamed to any response including short term shelter to ensure safe and private breast‐feeding places and WASH interventions.

MID‐TERM RECOVERY NEEDS (ONCE WATER HAS RECEDED) APPEAR TO BE:  The nutrition situation of pregnant/lactating women and children, who are most vulnerable to under nutrition, should be closely monitored.  Nutrition sensitive strategies should be mainstreamed to any response in the key sectors of: - Food security/livelihoods: to ensure women and children have access to, and consume adequately diversified nutritious diets - Shelter: to ensure mothers have safe, private and hygienic spaces to continue breastfeeding their infants and young children. - WASH: to ensure caregivers handwash with soap during handling of food and feeding and have adequate sanitation to avoid contamination and subsequent illness in children that can lead to under nutrition. - Health: to ensure essential health and nutrition services continue to be delivered by health providers at quality and scale to women and children ‐ Continued monitoring of the nutrition situation and aggravating factors - Scale‐up promotion of IYCF to affected communities - Support functioning and capacity of all health facilities in affected areas to deliver essential health and nutrition services (prevention and treatment) - Raise awareness and support local authorities, community leaders and partners in other sectors to mainstream nutrition sensitive strategies into ongoing assessment and response plans

104DMIC 30.08.2014. 105 WFP communication with JNA Team. 106 WFP communication with JNA Team. 107 Nutrition cluster FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg45

6.7 HEALTH

KEY FINDINGS  Health was considered to be an issue in 104 of the Unions covered by the assessment  48 people have died as a result of drowning (19.08‐04.09)108  Cases of diarrhea, ARI, skin diseases, eye infections and injuries have been recorded by the National health Crisis Management Centre Control Room of DGHS in the last 9 days (it is difficult to know if this is an increase as compared to other years until baselines have been established)109  24 cases of snakebite have been reported with 4 of these resulting in death110  Decreased access to health centres for marooned households111  Although anthrax has been reported by the media in flood affected areas, the health cluster and WHO confirm that there is no correlation between this and flooding situation or any increased likelihood of the spread of the disease which is air borne rather than water borne. 112  National Health Crisis Management Center &Control room (Hot Line +88 0 1519114488) and Control Rooms of flood affected district have been opened for 24/7.  WHO (Health Cluster) is closely monitoring the overall situation with National Health Crisis Management Centre & Control Room, DGHS & Programme Manager, EHA and assured for providing necessary technical support in this regard.

SECTOR SUMMARY One of the major impacts of floods on health services (especially in the remote north‐western char‐lands of Bangladesh) is that government health facilities, even when functioning, are very limited113 and hard to reach for the affected communities who are marooned by standing water even in non‐disaster monsoons.114 Health clinics are often located in high‐risk locations for flooding and will continue to be at risk unless mitigation work is undertaken115.It could be difficult for medical teams to reach marooned people due to a shortage of water vehicles (engine boat, river ambulance etc)116.

108 DMIC, Situation report, Countrywide Inundation Situation, 4th September, 2014. 109 1239 cases of diarrhea, 353 ARI, 402 skin diseases, 131 eye infections, 105 injuries. DMIC, Situation report, Countrywide Inundation Situation, 30th August, 2014: 16.30 BST 110 DMIC, Situation report, Countrywide Inundation Situation, 4th September, 2014 111 Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) Flood Report ‐ 25th August 2014 112 Health cluster communication with JNA team August 2014. 113 Centre for Social Studies, Monga report 114 Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) Flood Report ‐ 25th August 2014 115 JNA SDR River Flooding March 2014 116 Health cluster communication with JNA team, August 2014 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg46

Figure 24: Underlying health concerns

Issues related to health were specifically mentioned in reports that became available prior to or during the JNA. The main concern was that a shortage of safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities117would increase the probability that people would be affected by respiratory infections, communicable and water borne diseases, such as cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid, and dysentery in these affected areas.,118,119 Diarrhoea is highly prevalent throughout the year, but typically spikes in April and October (ICDDR,B I/V 2013)120 and is likely to increase when the water recedes121. Malnutrition is a key underlying health risk in these districts.122

117 JNA SDR River Flooding March 2014 (KI Health Cluster 2013) 118 Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) Flood Report ‐ 25th August 2014, Health cluster communication with JNA team, August 2014 119 Health Cluster communication with the JNA team (August 2014), JNA SDR River flooding March 2014 120 JNA SDR River flooding March 2014 121 Health clustercommunication with the JNA team (August 2014) 122 JNA SDR River flooding March 2014 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg47

Reports at the Union level indicated:  In 102 unions, almost half of the Unions affected, health facilities were found to be inaccessible ((Q 50).  The main health concerns reported as a result of the disaster are communicable disease and anti‐ natal care  Reports coming directly from the Unions involved in the JNA indicated that 1351 people were reported to be injured as a result of the floods. This is a far greater number than noted in the DMIC sit‐rep on the 30th August with gave the number as 311 injured.123

Table 20: Health problems as a result of the disaster (Q52)

of

animals

Care removal don't

/

and injured

yet

bodies

natal need

‐ Dead people People that Communicable diseases Anti Nothing know Other Bogra 0 0 3 0 0 0 Gaibandha 0 8 14 9 1 5 Jamalpur 0 0 17 7 2 0 Kurigram 1 2 47 17 2 1 Lalmonirhat 1 2 18 16 2 1 Nilphamari 0 1 1 1 0 9 Rangpur 1 0 0 4 0 2 Sherpur 0 0 7 0 0 0 Sirajganj 4 5 31 30 1 0 Total 7 18 138 84 8 18

Table 21: Health Facilities not functioning124 (Q.48).

Sherpur Sirajganj Nilphamari Rangpur Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Gaibandha Bogra None 4 17 0 37 12 8 10 5 9 A few 1 10 8 14 11 0 1 2 18 Some 1 1 1 4 0 0 0 0 4 Many 3 1 1 5 0 0 1 0 3 Do not know 0 1 10 3 5 2 0 0 2 Total Number of unions 9 30 20 63 28 10 12 7 36

123 DMIC, Situation report, Countrywide Inundation Situation, 4th September, 2014 124 A range is given here because of the way the question was asked in the JNA Format. The JNA questionnaire asked for respondents to use a range in answering to this question (q48). None, a few (1‐25%), some (26‐50%), many (50‐100%). FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg48

Figure 25: Reasons for health conditions not functioning

The most frequently reported reason that health facilities were not functioning by Union Chairmen was because they were out of supplies. Staff shortages and damage to infrastructure were also concerns expressed at the Union level. Reports from the health cluster report that there is no shortage of emergency drugs (ORS, WPT, IV saline, anti‐snake venom, antibiotics and other necessary drugs).125 Reported access to health facili es (% out of 208 affected Unions)

Union with access to Health facility Union with no access to Health facility

100% 0 1 90% 2 7 80%

28 106 70% 16 20 25 60% 7

50% 10 10 40% 5 13 30%

32 102 20% 11 9 10 10% 2

0% Bogra Gaibandha Jamalpur Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Rangpur Sherpur Sirajganj Total 9 Unions 29 Unions 20 Unions 60 Unions 27 Unions 10 Unions 11 Unions 7 Unions 35 Unions 208 Unions

Figure 26: Reported access to health facilities

125 Health cluster communications with JNA Team August 2014. FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg49

Reports from the National Health Crisis Management Centre and Control Room indicate that from 19‐27 August 2014 a total of 1239 diarrhoea cases, 353 Acute Respiratory Infections (Pneumonia), 402 Skin disease cases, 131 eye infection cases, and 105 non‐fatal injuries were recorded (in 8 of the flood affected districts). 453 medical teams are currently working to tackle the health problems in flood affected areas126.

Based on experience from previous large floods (1988, 1998, 2004, 2007) there is a possibility of an increase in the death figures due to drowning and snakebite. Previously, approximately 70% of deaths in floods occurred due to drowning, 25% from Snake bite and 5% other causes127. Reports from deaths from both drowning and snakebite have increased in DMIC sit‐reps since 19th August.

As people are lacking shelter as they reside on roadsides and embankments, the resulting decreased hygiene and a lack of privacy limits the available space where women feel comfortable to continue breastfeeding and/or engage in complementary feeding for infants and young children.A deeper analysis of pre‐crisis data is required to establish the approximate number of women and infants impacted by this situation. 128Based analysis of field‐based information (from e.g. Sirajgonj, Jamalpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Sunamgonj), the UNFPA estimates that, on average, approximately 1.75% of the flood affected persons are pregnant, i.e. 32,000 – 33,000 pregnant women out of the total affected population of 1,876,636 from 9 districts. 129 This approximate figure should be used to determine the assistance required for safe delivery for the displaced population of pregnant women in the final trimester.

A study by the Human Development Research Council in 2008 after the mega floods of 2007 had the following findings on the impact of the floods on deliveries130:

 Non‐availability of transport in and around all flood‐affected areas and disruption of communications seriously hindered women’s ability to access health facilities for deliveries.  There were insufficient skilled/experienced personnel to assist delivery of babies.  In Beribandh or in road‐side shelters131, the situation was the most unacceptable. These places were dirty and unhygienic. People co‐existed with livestock, and there was no place for delivery, excepting open spaces under the cover of share or bed‐sheets.  None of the pregnant women and lactating mothers received any relief related to reproductive care.

All of these concerns are relevant in the present context in relation to displacement.

RECOMMENDATIONS The immediate response interventions being called for in existing reports and indicated by the available information are:  Provision of ORS to reduce incidence/severity of water borne diseases132

126Health cluster, reports to the JNA team August 2014. Also reported in DMIC sit‐rep 30.08.14. 127 Health cluster reports to JNA team August 2014. 128 JNA SDR River flooding March 2014 129 Communication from UNFPA with JNA team. 130 JNA SDR River Flooding March 2014 UNFPA 2008 ‐http://unfpabgd.org/index.php?option=page&id=82&Itemid=68 131 It is assumed this includes the “spontaneous settlements” referred to elsewhere in this report. 132 Muslim Aid Situation report No. 191 – 18 August 2014 FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg50

 Relief and medical services related to reproductive care for women (including transportation)133  Redistribution of existing “Clean Delivery Kits “provided by UNFPA to the affected areas in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Jamalpur for to support safe delivery of the affected pregnant women.134  Mobile medical team/ Rapid Response team/ Surveillance Team combined with post‐Flood Disease Surveillance System for better investigation and proper management of public health situation135 (especially in light of impact on sanitation and while it is unknown how long the stagnant water will take to recede)  Replenish emergency buffer stock at all flood affected health facilities136

MID‐TERM RECOVERY NEEDS (ONCE WATER HAS RECEDED) APPEAR TO BE:  Restoring access to health facilities for households who have been marooned  Repair of damage to health infrastructure  Re‐stock health centres with essential supplies

6.8 ACCESSIBILITY TO THE AFFECTED AREAS

KEY FINDINGS A total of 188 unions reported problems with accessibility (Q13). Road accessibility was described as reduced in 183 unions, and bridges in 44 unions. Only 2 unions reported telecommunications difficulties these were in Kurigram and Sirajganj. (Q14)

Accessibility Total If affected, what types of accessibility have been affected Number affected? District of Yes No affected Road Telecommunication Bridge Others unions Bogra 9 0 9 9 0 5 3 Gaibandha 24 6 30 24 0 2 4 Jamalpur 16 4 20 15 0 6 7 Kurigram 59 4 63 57 1 15 5 Lalmonirhat 23 5 28 22 0 4 2 Nilphamari 6 4 10 5 0 0 0 Rangpur 9 3 12 9 0 0 0 Sherpur 6 1 7 6 0 5 0 Sirajganj 36 0 36 36 1 7 7 Total number of unions 188 27 215 183 2 44 28 reporting this

133 JNA SDR River Flooding March 2014 – UNFPA 2008 ‐http://unfpabgd.org/index.php?option=page&id=82&Itemid=68 134 UNFPA feedback to JNA team, August 2014. UNFPA is currently in the process of procuring additional Emergency Reproductive Health Kits 135 Health cluster communication with JNA team, August 2014. 136 Health cluster communication with JNA team, August 2014. FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg51

The flood situation has improved in most of the districts assessed in the JNA, however some areas have seen deterioration in accessibility since the initial primary data collection.

SECTOR SUMMARY Lessons learned from the 2007 floods highlighted that critical infrastructure and means of communication were disrupted137. Floods made roads impassable, destroyed bridges, increased the danger in travelling on and crossing rivers, and increased the costs of boat transportation when roads cannot be used. This impedes access to all key services including health and education as well as markets. A study by the Human Development Research Council in 2008 after the mega floods of 2007 found that the safe delivery of babies was negatively impacted by non‐availability of transport and communications in and around flood areas because it prevented women’s ability to access health facilities and emergency obstetric care.138

Findings from this JNA indicate these findings are also likely to be true for transportation but less of a problem for communication.

Information is a right that enables people to claim other rights. Access to information allows a community’s own recovery plan to drive the recovery process. It is essential, therefore, that an affected population can receive useful information.139 As communications channels are reported to be largely functional these should be employed to deliver key messages to people in affected areas through the Communications with Communities in Emergencies (CwCiE) group led by Department of Disaster Management (DDM) and co‐convened by UNICEF and BBC Media Action.

6.8.1 ACCESSIBILITY Inland river transportation is used to transport relief material in Bangladesh due to the presence of a river port and a good river transport network.140

The closest domestic airport to the affected area is Rangpur, however air transport is seldom used for distribution of relief material. Air services are sometimes affected due to poor visibility conditions on account of severe monsoon or weather conditions in winter. 141

Only 9.5 % of roads are paved142 and are thus are usually impacted seriously by flooding as had been highlighted in this JNA. Rail is used for transporting relief material. Movement of trains is also affected during floods due to water logging on the tracks143 however no information is available at this time about the impact of the floods on rail services.

6.8.2 COMMUNICATION In spite of significant growth in the use of the electronic media over recent years it is important to realize that 27% of females and 13% of males do not watch TV, listen to radio, or are not reached by any other media on a regular basis in Bangladesh.

137 GoB 2007, Flood report ‐ http://www.ddm.gov.bd/pdf/Executive%20Summary‐Flood%20Report.pdf 138 UNFPA, 2008 ‐ http://unfpabgd.org/index.php?option=page&id=82&Itemid=68 139 IFRC, 2005 in ALNAP 2008 140 Logistics cluster in JNA pre‐crisis SDR for River Flooding, March 2014. 141 Logistics cluster in JNA pre‐crisis SDR for River Flooding, March 2014. 142 Government of Bangladesh report on Cyclone Sidr, 2008 143Logistics cluster in JNA pre‐crisis SDR for River Flooding, March 2014. FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg52

Television is the most popular source of news and entertainment in urban Bangladesh. Urban access to television is 91%, compared to rural areas where access to television is 67%. However it should still be noted that one in five Bangladeshis do not watch TV or listen to radio at all.

Radio ownership has fallen steadily in recent years, from 36% in 1999 to 15% in 2011. A 2011 Survey indicated that 73% of radio listeners tuned into stations on their mobile phones, but only 34% still listened to programmes on a radio set. The mobile network covers 98% of the population. Although mobile holes exist in the country these do not appear to include the area covered by this assessment144.

56.1% of the population has access to electricity. The figure is much higher in urban than in rural areas (52.8% in urban areas and 13.6% in rural areas)145. The demand for electricity drops after a major emergency due to the damage to housing and small and medium scale industries146. If electricity has been damaged it impacts communications if people are unable to access electronic media or re‐charge mobile phones.

RECOMMENDATIONS  Through the Communications with Communities in Emergencies (CwCiE) develop a short list of the key, pre‐agreed messages that people in affected areas need to know. Develop a communications strategy for these based on SMS and community radio.  Necessary measures for access to facilities for maternal and newborn health care must be taken now to reduce mortality and morbidity.147  Contact Unions reporting communications difficulties to understand what these are and how quickly they will be restored.  Logistics cluster to consider methods of getting more detailed information on damage to roads and bridges and the impact this may be having on accessibility for people and for goods in affected areas.  Logistics cluster to identify any impact on rail transport to affected areas (not covered by JNA)

144 They are in the extreme North‐west, the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the Southern Sunderbans. InfoAsAid report 2012. 145 Child Equity Atlas 2013 146 Government of Bangladesh report on Cyclone Sidr, 2008 ‐ http://gfdrr.org/docs/AssessmentReport_Cyclone%20Sidr_Bangladesh_2008.pdf 147 UNFPA feedback to JNA Team. FINDINGS: Joint Needs Assessment: Flooding in north‐western Bangladesh – 08 September 2014 Pg53