Uttar Dinajpur a Rapid Emergency Needs Assessment
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Uttar Dinajpur A Rapid Emergency Needs Assessment State Inter Agency Group – West Bengal 16 – 17 April 2010 United for Humanitarian Response On the night of 13 April Tornado started in Forbesganj area of Bihar, hit Purnea and Araria districts in Bihar, and five blocks of Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal at 0.00 hrs of 14th April’2010. This killed 43 people and created massive devastation to the livelihoods of nearly a million population. Roughly the loss was estimated at 133 crores. There was no such forecasting or announcement from the meterological department. The wind speed was around 125 Km/ hrs. Out of nine blocks four were badly affected and one block was affected partly. A 10 members team of IAG - West Bengal visited the district with the objective to have a quick rapid assessment to understand the humanitarian response required situation in the affected areas, including the analysis of existing support and determining other felt needs & priorities of the areas where IAG may intervene to meet up the humanitarian needs. The team divided into two groups and visited all 5 blocks and several Gram Panchayets and Villages. They interacted with the community people, GP Pradhans, Sabhapati, BDOs and other block officials, as well as district Administration, District Program Officer (ICDS) and Chief Medical Officer of Health. For the Terms of Reference of the team, kindly find: Appendix 1: Terms of Reference for ENA – Uttar Dinajpur, Tornado, April 2010 KEY FINDINGS According to government sources in the district: a. So far 43 deaths have been reported including 23 women and 15 children. In Karandighi block alone accounted for 19 deaths. (Find attached file Appendix 2: Death Report) b. 114400 houses were fully damaged and 94140 houses partly damaged. Around 900000 people affected in 851 villages of 5 blocks. (Find Table - 1 for Affected people) c. Roughly estimated damage to livestock/ livelihood Rs 133 cores. These reports need to be corroborated with reports to be received from the Disaster Management Department, GoWB. People are trying to repair the houses with locally available materials such as straw and bamboo. Food insecurity is high, as this is both a lean season for work, and people are busy repairing the houses. Although there is a huge report of loss of livestock like cows, piggery, goats, and chicken, but the only available estimates are from REWA which is available on page 10 Physical Injuries like bruises, Fracture, wounds are being treated locally, specially in the block hospitals and rural health centers. Some cases of suspected measles that had appeared in the first week of April were investigated by NPSP. Results are awaited. They are from Goalpokhar 1 block. Standing crop like maize that was full ripe for harvest has damaged 90% and there is a loss of 60-70% of household stored grain; besides this, due to lack of electricity (since fields are irrigated with shallow connections in many parts of these blocks), irrigation is affected, and boro crop of rice could be hit. 2 In Baje Bindol of Bindole GP, Raiganj block 26 families were found to be spending the night in a school room. Normally, people are sleeping either in the temporary shelter on the place of their original house, or in a neighbor’s home. The water table is high with shallow hand pumps available in abundance. As there was no water logging in the affected areas no infiltration has taken place hence contamination other than the existing one is not seen, though the sanitary surveillance indicates that there is high risk of contamination as most of the tubewells don’t have an apron. There has been No major displacement & hence the Excreta disposal does not seem to possess an immediate threat, though with one or two showers the situation can take dramatic turn. Govt started sending relief materials to the Block /Panchayat head quarters for distribution ( though at present the quantity is inadequate) black plastic sheet ( one pcs per family) but there is no distribution planning ( in the sense of targeting, no of distribution points , color of plastic sheet ) Flat rice ( 50 gm) ,rice( 1kg) has been distributed by the govt but the quantity is less and not all the families are been covered under food distribution NRHM fund ( GKS ) are utilised for providing primary treatment support to needy patient There is adequate number of private hand pumps are in the villages ( 50/60 ft deep) Though the practice of open defecation is common, people maintain distance. PRI members are playing proactive role in relief distribution. There is a huge loss of loss of utensils, household materials, specially to the poor who have lost their homes and basic assets. Anganwadi centers not able to function regularly, as most of the homes of AWWs are destroyed, and some of the houses in which AWC were functioning have got destroyed. Schools in the affected blocks are closed. There is an unconfirmed report of about 100 schools having some damages or the other, specially, damage to roof. Four health sub centers are also razed down. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS : The rapid needs assessment team recommends the following: Immediate Action Points:- Immediate need for two weeks of food support to the affected population. First Aid Box to be placed as depot system in all the AWC in most affected areas with the support of PRI & Health Mobile medical services with follow up at doorstep by health personnel for injured persons and if required referred to hospital. Clothes for children, teenage girls and women of most affected villages Supply of cooking utensils and water storage containers. Since there is no internal displacement, and the weather is warmer, the role of tarpaulins is limited. Hence, resources may be provided for inexpensive housing materials. Advocate for functioning of all AWCs & health sub-centers as an essential service irrespective of holidays Advocate for immediate implementation of works under NREGS and release of fund to fulfill cash requirements in families and to avoid distress sale or mortgage of assets. 3 Need for district level coordination of relief operation and NGOs working in the district. So, appoint a person to coordinate the NGO efforts at the district level at least for three months. Advocate with electricity department for more man-power to ensure quicker restoration of supply in villages, to ensure continued irrigation. Support damaged 100 schools with “School In a Box” Long Term Action Points:- • Further assessment of Livelihood & livestock damages for early recovery of livelihood options. • Support to farmers by providing seeds and fertilizers • Financial support for restoration of livelihood (small business, cycle vans, tea shops, poultry, cattle etc.) • A comprehensive action plan in collaboration with DMD on community based disaster risk reduction with the involvement of ICDS, Health, PRI, other line departments, and humanitarian organizations of the district is needed SUMMARY OBSERVATIONS BY THE TEAM : o Water Supply & electricity being restored on priority by the Government o Major Intervention may not be required for Water & Sanitation but prepositioning of Cl2 Tablets & bleaching powder can be thought about o PRI has been very active from the date of disaster o There has been no outbreaks of Diarrhea or any other infectious disease reported after the tornado o Distribution of relief materials by government through Panchayat is speeding up o Major Support will be needed for restoration, Rehabilitation , Disaster Risk Reduction & livelihood o Regular Monitoring of weather & the emerging situation should be undertaken o Advocacy on Shelter Construction, Wind Proof Shelter Construction, Hygiene Promotion, & PRI Capacity building on Govt Schemes & emergency response o Monitoring of Anganwadi functioning & Food stock o Regular collection of Disease surveillance reports on weekly basis 4 BASE LINE DATA & CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CRISIS : As per District administration report made available, total death toll was 42 as of 16th April’2010. 114400 houses were fully damaged and 94140 houses partly damaged. Around 900000 people are affected in 851 villages. These villages are spread across Karandighi, Raiganj, Hemtabad, Kaliyagnaj mainly, and in Goalpukhar II and Itahar. A huge number of trees have fallen down and fruits trees like Mango, Jackfruits, Lichi, Banana, Papaya, vegetables and other cash crops are damaged very badly. Huge number of electric poles of all these blocks have collapsed and telephone connections are in disorder, although it is getting restored in town areas. During the time of disaster, agriculture fields were full of maize crop which is badly damaged; and boro crop of paddy has also been seriously affected, because 90% fields depend on shallow-tubewell irrigation which depends on electricity. Nobody gave assurance on how long it will take to bring the normal condition of electrical supply. No assessment has been made so far on livelihood damages. During the assessment period (16 – 17 April 2010) the team found lots of people injured. (Kindly find Appendix 3 - Health Status Report for further information). They received first aid from the hospital but no follow up mechanism was noticed by the team. At present, there is no such public health problem or out break of disease has occurred, although the threat remains, specially if there is any rain. The district administration has given an order to keep open and functional all anganwadi centers (AWCs) on an emergency basis in order to ensure continuous SNP services for most vulnerable population i.e. children under 5 years and pregnant and lactating mothers. Unfortunately this instruction has not reached to anganwadi workers (AWWs) as well as PRI who can take a lead role to provide support to AWWs, because a huge number houses in which AWCs are located also have got damaged. The assessment team has not found any systematic joint plan of action between district Health & ICDS during this type of crisis period.