Network for Information, Response And Preparedness Activities on Disaster (NIRAPAD) Bangladesh Flood 2007 SitRep No. 09 Dhaka, 02 August 2007 (www.nirapad.org ) Worse still ahead, woes heighte ns HIGHLIGHTS § The death toll stands at 38 with a number of people missing. § A population of 4.54 million is affected and some 2, 65,185 people are displaced. More than 1,089 unions under 159 upazilas in 36 districts are affected and 18,940 houses destroyed. § The population in 589 camps stands at 265,185, it is expected that the people will leave the shelters in the coming days as the waters started receding in the upstream districts. § The Brahmaputra-Jamuna started receding in the upper stream points and it is likely to start falling at Sirajganj from tomorrow and at Aricha from the day after tomorrow. § 27 water level monitoring stations are flowing above danger levels: Water Level stations: Rise: 39 Fall: 20 Not reported: 3 Steady: 1 OVERVIEW § From assessments of six priority districts, the NGOs (RDRS/RSDA, GUK/SKS, NDP /MMS, POPI and SDS) report that the majority of the populations in the worst affected districts are living in the open air on roadsides. Support from government and NGOs have covered 10% to 15% of the population needs so far. immediate requirements include tents, medicines, food items, drinking water & sanitation and fodder. § UPAZILAS IN NEED OF ATTENTION include Chilmari, Rajibpur, Raumari, Bhurungamari, Kurigram Sadar and Ulipur upazila in KURIGRAM, Fulchhari, Gaibandha Sadar, Sundarganj and Saghata upazila in GAIBANDHA, Kazipur, Sirajganj Sadar, Chowhali, Shahjadpur and Belkuchi upazila in SIRAJGANJ and Dewanganj, Islampur, Sharishabari, Madarganj and Melandah upazila in JAMALPUR , Kalmakanda, Khaliajuri, Dhobaura, Durgapur, Madan upazila in Netrakona and Jazira, Naria and Bhedarganj upazila in SHARIATPUR district. § The RDRS -Kurigram reports that over 10,000 people from the Char unions have crossed mighty Brahmaputra and have been sheltered along side the roads, embankments and other institutions of the towns over the last few days creating needs in food and shelter. § The RSDA-Raumari, Kurigram reports that Raumari upazila become ‘an island in the vast sea’ as road communications snapped. At least 15000 people (3000hh) have been taken shelter at 19 smaller pieces of high spots. § The GUK-Gaibandha reports that about 220,000 people of 60300 families are affected by the floodwater. 158 villages of 29 unions of 04 upazilas with 02 municipalities are fully flooded and other unions of these upazila s are partially affected. Among the upazila s, Fulchhari is the worst affected. § The NDP –Sirajganj reports that out of over 200,000 affected households of the 9 upazilas, above 105,750 HHs are badly affected by the floods. The main town of Siragonj district has gone under water about 4/5 feet and miseries of the people know no bounds. A number of Upazila Headquarters including District Headquarter are also under water. The road communication with the Sirajgonj district is already suspended, only few van/rickshaw using as transport some limited places. FLOOD SITUATION (According to the bulletin of FFWC) § The Brahmaputra-Jamuna started recedi ng in the upper stream points and it is likely to start falling at Sirajganj from tomorrow and at Aricha from the day after tomorrow. § The flood situation in the districts of Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Rangpur and Bogra is likely to improve further whereas the situation in the districts of Jamalpur, Serajganj, Pabna & Tangail is still deteriorating at a lower rate and expected to start improving by next 1/2 days. § The Ganges-Padma continued rising at all points and is flowing 144 cm & 100 cm above danger. § The prevailing flood situation in the districts of Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur and Dohar & Nawabganj upazila of Dhaka are likely to aggravate further. This report is also available on www.nirapad.org Page 1 of 3 Network for Information, Response And Preparedness Activities on Disaster (NIRAPAD) § The Meghna at Bhairab Bazar continued rising and is flowing 53 cm above danger level this morning. The river is likely to rise further and inundation of low-lying areas in the districts of Narshingdi, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Gazipur and Narayanganj will be continued further. § Small rivers surrounding Dhaka and Narayanganj continued rising and the Balu at Demra, the Lakhya at Narayanganj, the Tongi Khal at Tongi are flowing above danger level by 9 cm, 19 cm and 11 cm respectively. The Turag at Mirpur is likely to cross danger level by next 24 hrs. § More low lying areas in the eastern part of Dhaka city is likely to be inundated further. § The prevailing flood situation in the north-eastern districts Netrokona, Sunamganj and Sylhet may remain unchanged. ESTIMATED DAMAGE: Government figures on impact of floods as on August 01, 2007 are as follows: Affected Districts 36 Affected Upazila s 159 Affected Pourashava 12 Affected Union 1,089 Affected households 1,240,680 Affected population 4,548,100 Reported deaths 38 House damaged (Fully) 18,940 House damage (Partially) 236,670 Crop damaged (Fully) 163,696 Acre Crop damaged (Partially) 377,179 Acre Road damaged (Fully) 3,370Km Road damaged (Partially) 8,144Km Educational institutions (Fully) 82 Educational institutions (Partially) 1776 Embankment damaged (Fully) 44 Km Embankment damaged (Partially) 363Km Bridge and culverts damaged (Fully) 14 Bridge and culverts damaged (Partially) 178 # of shelters opened 589 # of people in shelters 265,185 Source: Relief Control Room of Ministry of Food and Disaster Management RESPONSE Side by side GoB interventions, NGOs are doing response activities at their own capacities: 1. Chars Livelihoods Programme (CLP ) in a written letter on 31 July 2007 informed NIRAPAD that CLP will offer flood relief for the population on island chars in the 5 Districts of Bogra, Kurigram, Sirajganj, Gaibandha, and Jamalpur. The CLP will NOT BE ACTIVE on the mainland and on chars out side of its normal area operation. CLP’s flood relief efforts will be channeled through its 19 Partner Organizations. At present stage the CLP and its partners will concentrate on: § the rental of boats and purchase of fuel to remove any person or animal from an island char who wishes to go the mainland § Distributing dry food packages to all families and persons remaining on the chars. The packages are prepared for families of up to 5 members for 3 days and contains essentials like flatten rice, molasses, candles, matches, water purification tablets and oral-re-hydration saline § Purchasing and distribution of animal feed of fodder. Steps are taken to vaccinate cattle against Foot and Mouth diseases. 2. CARE Bangladesh has decided to distribute BP5 biscuits (High Protein/Fortified) the districts of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Sirajganj, Tangail, Jamalpur, Kishoreganj and Sunamganj. CARE also moved its two water purification plants to Sirajganj and Jamalpur. 3. IFRC/BDRCS, in the first phase, is going to support 9700 HH in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Sirajganj, Tangail, Jamalpur and Faridpur. Each packet includes rice 20 kg, pulse 5 kg, edible oil 2litre, soap 1 This report is also available on www.nirapad.org Page 2 of 3 Network for Information, Response And Preparedness Activities on Disaster (NIRAPAD) piece, shari 1 piece and lungi 1 piece. Apart from this each district will provided with 2000 ORS, 10000 WPT and Tk. 100,000 for flatten rice and molasses. 4. Oxfam GB is planning to support 40000 HH with comprehensive package in 9 districts which include Gaibandha, Kurigram, Jamalpur, Shariatpur, Faridpur, Rajabari, Kishoreganj or Pana. 5. Christian Aid partners met in a meeting today in view to finalize the plan to go for a collective response in the flood hit areas 6. Concern Worldwide distributed dry food (5kg flatten rice, 1kg molasses, 5 packet high protein biscuits, per family) and 5000 households in Kazipur and Sadar Upazila in Sirajganj through its partner GKS. They are now planning to distribute relief materials in Faridpur, Manikganj and Tangail. 7. Action Aid Bangladesh is distributing dry food and non-food items (5kg flatten rice, molasses 1 kg, 10 packets, ORS 4 pcs, carbolic soap, dettol, fire box 1, drinking water 10 litre per family) among 2400 HH the flood victims of Dewanganj Islampur in Jamalpur through its partner NGO Unnayan Sangha and among the flood hit 1800 HH at Sirajganj Sadar through SAP Bangladesh. AAB is also distributing food and non food items among 1800 HH (including 250 sex workers) at Faridpur Sadar through AKK, MOUS, SMS. SPECIAL NOTE: To avoid resource duplications all agencies are requested to finalize their response plan taking others efforts into account. For instance, CLP is addressing all its beneficiaries living in the chars of its five working districts. Agencies should review first whether the support is enough before planning for them. This report was prepared based on various information sources listed below: Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Media reports, Websites, Indian Meteorology, NGOs- RDRS and RSDA -Kurigrami, GUK and SKS-Gaibandha, NDPand MMS-Sirajganj, SDS and GUP-Shariatpur, POPI-Kishoreganj, BURO-Tangail and DMUS-Jamalpur, INGOs-Action Aid, CLP, Concern, CARE, IFRC/BDRCS, Cristian Aid, Oxfam etc. This report is also available on www.nirapad.org Page 3 of 3 .