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Download PDF Donor nations and agencies have so far pledged over $550 million in assistance for the cyclone Sidr-hit people in south and southwestern districts as the government yesterday unveiled a three-phase rehabilitation plan.
The Food and Disaster Management Ministry has outlined both short and long term rehabilitation programmes for the cyclone-hit areas, which include repair of damaged roads and houses as well as saving the world’s largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, ministry sources said.
Meanwhile, a disaster management expert yesterday asked the government to repair roads in the affected region as first priority for easy transportation of relief materials to remote areas.
“I think there is no crisis of relief materials as people from home and abroad have responded positively to help the affected people,” Gawher Nayeem Wahra, convener of Bangladesh Disaster Forum, told The Daily Star.
But aid workers are facing acute problems in reaching destitute people in remote areas, he pointed out.
Food and Disaster Management Secretary Ayub Mia, after a meeting with donors at the ministry yesterday, told reporters that the government so far received assurance of foreign assistance of over $200 million for the cyclone-hit.
A coordination meeting of secretaries of different ministries at the Cabinet Division yesterday discussed requirement of foreign assistance to meet the aftermath of cyclone Sidr. The meeting was apprised that the World Bank pledged assistance of $250 million and the Asian Development Bank $100 million for the affected people.
“Of the $250 million World Bank assistance, $75 million will be provided as budgetary support,” said a top government official.
After the meeting with donors, Ayub Mia said Japan pledged over $10 million in assistance for five programmes.
India will provide assistance of $22 million, including 40,000 tonnes of rice, 10,000 tonnes of wheat, 1,000 tonnes of milk powder, 10,000 blankets and 400 tents.
Denmark has pledged five million euro while an aircraft from Italy with relief materials will arrive in Dhaka in a couple of days.
The European Commission will provide five million euro and SIDA of Canada $ 3 million for the cyclone victims.
Asked about the $200 million figure, Ayub Mia said it included previous commitments for assistance by Saudi Arabia, Spain, UK, USA and UNDP.
Meanwhile, the disaster management ministry has identified Barguna, Patuakhali, Bagerhat and Pirojpur as the worst-affected districts and eight other districts — Barisal, Jhalakathi, Bhola, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Khulna and Satkhira–as badly affected.
The government will run Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme from December to March in the 12 districts. Fifteen kilograms of rice will be given to every VGF cardholder per month free of cost.
The government will distribute 5,000 VGF cards among the poor in each union and pourasava in the four worst-affected districts. In the eight other districts, 2,000 VGF cards will be distributed in each union and poursava.
A total of 25,90,000 cards will be distributed in the districts.
Despite the massive rehabilitation and relief programmes of the government, various quarters have raised questions about management of relief distribution as many of the affected people are still to get emergency aid.
Gawher Nayeem Wahra said transportation of relief materials to remote areas has become the major challenge, and not the crisis of materials. Most of the roads have been damaged in the hurricane, while damage of ferry ghats also affected communication system.
“Government can engage army personnel in repairing the roads and ferry ghats immediately,” he said.
He also warned the government of possible outbreak of diarrhoea in the affected districts as most of the ponds have been contaminated with salty water and garbage. Livestock are also in danger, he said. “Government should take immediate steps to purify water in the areas. Otherwise we will witness a big disaster in next three months,” he said.
The disaster management expert also suggested that the government engage efficient government officials in the affected areas to coordinate relief distribution and rehabilitation programmes properly. “Many of the officials in the areas have been posted there as punishment since government officials usually decline to work in remote areas. We can’t expect good service from an aggrieved government official,” he noted.
DAMAGE UPDATE
According to the Food and Disaster Management Ministry data yesterday, 68 lakh people have been badly affected by the cyclone Sidr. Crops on 4,61,392 acres of land have been damaged completely and on 12,25,304 acres partially.
The cyclone has destroyed at least 3,63,346 houses completely and 8,15,628 houses partially.
FRIENDLY NATIONS CONTINUE TO HELP
More nations and donor agencies yesterday came forward with grants and relief materials while some of them pledged more aid to help Bangladesh mitigate the damages caused by Cyclone Sidr that ripped through the country’s southern region on November 15.
The Indian government has launched a relief operation codenamed Operation Sahayata, reports UNB.
Operation Sahayata would provide relief materials worth Rs 3 crore (Tk 5.2 crore) to the cyclone victims in Bangladesh. The materials to be sent out would include medical equipment, 20,000 packs of ready-to-eat food, 10,000 blankets, 400 tents and 24,00 kg of medicines.
One of the three Il-76 aircraft carrying relief materials under the programme has arrived at Zia International Airport (ZIA) at 1:30pm yesterday, said an Indian High Commission official in Dhaka adding that two more aircraft are scheduled to arrive today and tomorrow.
Two more C-130 aircraft from Pakistan are scheduled to arrive at 1:00pm today in Barisal with a 30-bed mobile field hospital, said a press release of Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. A ship carrying relief goods will also be dispatched shortly, it added.
A press release of Italian Embassy in Dhaka said the first of the two special aircraft carrying Italian emergency aid including tents, generators, water purification units, blankets, emergency sanitary kits and other relief materials would arrive at ZIA tomorrow.
Japan yesterday announced that it would grant Bangladesh an additional aid of $ 3,670,646 that would be used by World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) under various relief programmes.
On November 20, Japan had handed over about $ 390,000 worth of relief goods to Bangladesh government.
Norway will make available $ 3.3 million for relief operations in the disaster areas in Bangladesh, said a statement issued by the government of Norway. The funds will be mainly distributed through the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), it added.
Turkey pledged to provide $1 million in cash as humanitarian aid to cyclone victims in Bangladesh, a press statement of the Turkish Embassy in Dhaka said.
Meanwhile, the persons who expressed their condolences yesterday to the loss of lives and properties by Cyclone Sidr include Suleiman J Al Herbish, DG, OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Jose Manuel Barroso, president of European Commission, Anibal A Cavaco Silva, president of European Union.
Chenkyab Dorji, secretary general of Saarc, Mohammad Mian Soomro, prime minister of Pakistan, and Edmund Ho Hau-wah, chief executive of Macao Special Administrative Region, U Nyan Win, foreign minister of Myanmar, Helena Demakova, acting foreign minister of Latvia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey also expressed their sympathies.
Foreign ministers of the Commonwealth countries, meeting in Kampala under the chairmanship of host Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa, expressed profound sympathy over the deaths and destruction caused by cyclone Sidr, reports UNB.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said they have deployed a Field Assessment Coordination Team (Fact) that is working closely with Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in the cyclone-hit areas since November 16.
The Bangladesh Embassy in the US and the Bangladeshi community residing there is jointly raising funds for the cyclone-affected people. M Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh ambassador to the US, at a meeting with various organisations of Bangladeshis urged all to come forward and help the cyclone victims.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Project Proposal
ON
EMERGENCY HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO CYCLONE CIDR 2007- FOR REHABILITATION
In
Working Areas of Alayerpur, Mirwarishpur and Chayainy Unions of Begumgonj Upazilla of Noakhali, District of Bangladesh.
Submitted by
Sebika Songstha(SS)
House # 246/1/B, West Agargoan Mohammadpur
Dhaka-1207 Bangladesh. Phone-88-02-8153944
Mobile-01817595410E-Mail: sebika_songstha@yahoo.com
I. Background and Justification for Response:
In recent days, several districts of Bangladesh have experienced unprecedented and unexpected Cyclone CIDR. Following heaving rainfall, tidal bore, and blow of air in the Bay of Bengal, the cyclone CIDR hits Bangladesh severely in the coastal belts like Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Perojpur, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Batuakhali, Bhola, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar etc. Districts in on 14-15th. November’ 2007 and severely affected the whole areas covering nearly 150,00,000 people, where many people have been passing miserable and painful days through taking shelters in different sheltered places. The Cyclone CIDR has destroyed human lives, livestock, standing crops, forestry resources, dwelling houses, educational institutions, roads, etc. due high blow of cyclone CIDR i.e. 210-240 km speed. The damaged and losses are primarily recorded from the field staffs from our working areas, are as follows but still actual figures are not collected. The main victim areas were the coastal belt of Bangladesh, which are adjacent to the Bay of Bengal. Our working area Alayerpur,Mirwarishpur and Chayainy Unions of Begumgonj Upazilla of Noakhali, District severely affected and most victims in Bangladesh and the death of human lives is maximum in Begumgonj, which is more that 100 and missing was more than 250 people. 95% houses, livestock, fisheries, forestry, sanding crops etc. were damaged totally and the people are suffering much in our working areas.
Actually the number of deaths, missing, damages, and losses will be more and more. Thousands of the poor coastal people are living under the open sky still and in the shelter places. The daily newspapers, Radios and TV channels circulating the news on severe ness and dangerousness affects of the cyclone CIDR and losses and damages in above-mentioned Upazillas of Districts along with other areas and also the total present situations continuously after every one-hour. Already the Deputy Commissioners and Upazilla Nirhabi Officers have sent the emergency news to the Bangladesh Government for immediate support for the severely affected poor and vulnerable people, because, the people are so much affected that which is not describable. Already the government departments, INGOs, UN organisations, NGOs, local CBOs and elite societies have come forward to help the victims in the coastal areas but those supports are not sufficient at all to face the severe ness. It is notable here that due to early warning and sheltering of the vulnerable people in the safe places by thousands of volunteers, government personnel, NGOs, etc. the human lives destruction was not so high according to the severity of the cyclone CIDR. Already all government departments, machinery, NGOs, INGOs, UN organisations fully involved in emergency works to save the severely affected poor people. The President, Chief Advisor, and the Advisors have called up emergency supports from the International Societies to save the lives of the severely affected poor people, because, the cold waves of the winter has started, so, people cannot stay in open sky with their minor children, which will cause more dies. At present, the victims needs emergency housing and rehabilitation supports for their survival.
It is hoped that every people, national donors, international donors, donor countries, UN bodies, donor institutions etc. have been observing the situations through the above-medias. Approximately 70% families of those Districts, especially in our working areas have been affected. Damages and losses are unlimited, because, human lives, all standing crops, livestock, fish resources, forestry resources etc. have been seriously damaged and most of the kacha houses have broken down due to cyclone CIDR. Moreover, the winter is Knocking at the door, so, the cold wave will disturbed the lives of the shelter-less victim people. In the mean time, Bangladesh government, individuals, institutions, political parties, clubs, NGOs, welfare institutions and other agencies have been providing different emergency relief materials and services to save the people. But these services are not sufficient to meet the needs, which need extra and collaborative supports, because, the affected people are not getting basic needs supports for saving their disaster lives. Under these circumstances, children, woman & old people are suffering too much.
Sebika Songstha (SS) Disaster Management Team closely followed the events in the region and carried out a series of rapid and timely needs assessments. Based on initial findings and in collaboration with development partner and with financial assistance from Sebika Songstha (SS), it has prepared and distributed immediate humanitarian supports and supplies to the affected families of above-mentioned Upazillas. These supplies included dry food, ORS, rice, lentils, edible oil, potatoes, iodized salt, protein biscuits, winter clothes, shelters, educational institution repairing and reconstruction etc. in the most severely affected areas as mentioned above.
• Distribution of Blankets and Clothes:
The majority of household members lost their winter clothes due to cyclone and tidal bore. Winter is approaching heading and it is necessary to provide winter clothes to the appropriate needy households in order to reduce illness and during the winter season especially among children and the elderly.
• Housing Reconstruction and Repair:
Communities consistently identify the immediate reconstruction and repair of houses as a high priority. Sebika Songstha(SS) could provide materials and construction supplies for rebuilding houses and latrines. Reconstruction and repair work would be done in a way that reduces future vulnerability to cyclones. An assessment team could carefully target and identify appropriate households unable to reconstruct their houses. Encouraging tree planting can also be an initiative in conjunction with house reconstruction.
The Mission’s assessment findings give a detailed picture of the situation in the cyclone -affected areas. They confirm that there is still scope for providing relief support to the vulnerable households in order to meet their immediate needs. The results also give indications of possible rehabilitation strategies and approaches. However, before undertaking rehabilitation activities, Sebika Songstha(SS) must co-ordinate with other NGOs, GOs and donors in order to maximise use of available resources and to avoid duplication of efforts.
II. Justification for involving Sebika Songstha(SS) Bangladesh.
Sebika Songstha(SS) is a private national, non-sectarian, not for-profit relief and development organisation.Sebika Songstha(SS)’s name is synonymous with efficient and professional emergency aid and effective long term development. Since 1987, Sebika Songstha(SS) has worked with people in Alayerpur,Mirwarishpur and Chayainy Unions of Begumgonj Upazilla of Noakhali, District of the country covering 1000 beneficiaries with the support of LIFE for Relief & Development, ,USA. Department of Youth Development, Department of Social Services, NGO Forum etc. and local contribution etc. to help them improve the quality of their lives. Currently Sebika Songstha(SS) operates development assistance and disaster relief programs in disaster prone areas has developed different teams within Sebika Songstha(SS) through providing many training courses and also developed many village level teams in disaster prone areas. Sebika Songstha(SS)’s programs directly address basic needs of the poorest people in the areas of primary health . Sebika Songstha(SS), agriculture and natural resources, infrastructure, education, disaster management & small enterprise development.
Today, millions of ordinary people from around the country support Sebika Songstha(SS). The local administration and government departments of each of the Upazilla, where Sebika Songstha(SS) has now established offices have joined them.
The donors who now support Sebika Songstha(SS)’s vital relief and rehabilitation efforts, however, understand well that effective aid must lead to long-term sustainable development. By making lasting improvements in their health & economic well being, people in developing countries and those who support them can help break the cycle of poverty and crisis.
Sebika Songstha(SS) currently promotes development activities through 6 projects operating in the central office throughout Begumgonj Upazilla. A motivated skilled staff of around 17 workers for Sebika Songstha(SS) with expertise in health, water and sanitation, agriculture, infrastructure development, logistics, commodity handling, capacity building, as well as emergency response .Sebika Songstha(SS) is also nationally recognised as a reliable, accountable and effective emergency responsible organisation. Sebika Songstha(SS) Bangladesh’s project support Unit keeps the extensive network running smoothly and efficiently using reliable systems developed over many years of practical experience.
The Sebika Songstha(SS) Institutional learning team, consisting of several core members specialised in different technical areas, is engaged in leading the Upazilla office’s efforts to design and implement a framework for development of all future Sebika Songstha(SS) projects as well as to promote organisation learning and establish mechanisms for innovative programming.
Under its basic constitution and policy, Sebika Songstha(SS) has been played/playing a unique role in the development field in Bangladesh .Sebika Songstha(SS) simultaneously works to build the technical and financial capabilities of staffs and beneficiaries and acts as a catalyst.
At present Sebika Songstha(SS) has 5 running projects in working Upazillas and Sebika Songstha(SS) also maintains close working relationship with the local administrations, local government departments, institutions, elite, local leaders etc.
The annual programming budget of Sebika Songstha(SS) is over Tk.115,00,000/- and the organisation receives funding support through several donors like LIFE for Relief & Development, ,USA., , Department of Youth Development, Department of Social Services, NGO Forum etc.
III. Goal:
The goal of this project is to reduce the long-term negative humanitarian impact of the cyclone CIDR and to assist households in rebuilding their livelihoods.
IV. Location:
Sebika Songstha(SS) will undertake these humanitarian and rehabilitation activities in 7 Upazillas of different Districts of Bangladesh:
V. Target beneficiaries:
The intervention will directly assist 1,000 vulnerable cyclone CIDR affected families to meet immediate basic needs, rehabilitation and winter clothes during the upcoming winter. Sebika Songstha(SS) assessment teams will select project beneficiaries in two stages. First the team, together with local officials, will identify female headed households with no land available for farming and with homesteads of less than half an acre and no alternative source of income. Once the team has identified this group, it will select families from within the group based on the following prioritised criteria: a) Families with deaths during cyclone, b) Families with children under 10 years, c) Displaced poor families, d) Disable people etc.
VI. Implementation Strategies:
Sebika Songstha(SS) will continue to work with the local Disaster Coordination Committee to implement the project. Sebika Songstha(SS) will also work with Union Parishad and Upazilla Parishad to conduct a house to house survey that will provide the basis for identifying beneficiaries .Sebika Songstha(SS) will issue a signature card to all selected beneficiaries stating the name, date, and time of the distribution point. Sebika Songstha(SS) will obtain a distribution certificate from the GOB staff, local elite, UP/UZ representatives who are present at the distribution point. A master role will also be prepared.
VII. Coordination & Partnerships:
In order to maximise effective use of resources and to avoid overlap with other agencies, Sebika Songstha(SS) will co-ordinate wall activities both at the national and local levels with the GOB Disaster Management Committee (DMC) and the NGO Forum, and at the District level with the District Commissioners, and with Upazilla Nirbahi Officers (UNO).Sebika Songstha(SS) will select pre-qualified NGOs to implement all project activities.
Sebika Songstha(SS) will ensure all necessary administrative and logical support from its Dhaka Office as well as from the Upazilla Offices in selected Upazillas.
VIII. Proposed Project Activities with time line:
Six (6) months from April 15, 2008 October 15, 2008
Activity. Week after having formal approval.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Remarks
Proposal submission & approval X
Mobilising staff and orientation. X
Beneficiary selection. X
Processing of procurement. X
Distribution. X
Prepare list for rehabilitation. X
Arrange rehabilitation activities. X X
Distribute rehabilitation materials and money. X X X
VIII. Short Term impacts:
• 1,000 families and their children will have food stuffs that will allow them to better cope in the upcoming starvation.
• 1,000 families will have ORS to cope with water borne diseases and to rehabilitate safely.
• 50families will have repaired houses to cope with housing problems.
• 100 women have income generating activities to earn incomes and improve family economic conditions and to make up losses and damages
• 200 families will have to cope with water borne diseases and sanitation lacking
IX. Long term impacts:
• Post cyclone morbidity & mortality will be reduced in 1,000 families affected by CIDR.
• 200 families will decrease the sale and/or loss of productive assets.
• Improve long term sanitation facilities and reduced water borne diseases.
• Created employment and income earning opportunities and improve economic conditions of the affected people and can recover loses and damages.
• Rehabilitate on agricultural sectors and improve production.
• Solved housing problems permanently among the affected people.
X. Monitoring and Evaluation:
Sebika Songstha(SS will closely monitor the quality of the work. Monitoring system will ensure appropriate beneficiary selection and material supply. Warehouse and commodity use monitoring will be conducted frequently and systematically. These checks will include commodity counts, commodity weighing and end use random recipient interviews.Sebika Songstha(SS) will randomly monitor the quality and quantify of the items during procurement, assembling, store in warehouse, distribution point and end use (beneficiaries houses).
An evaluation of overall project performance will be conducted at the end of the project and report will be subsequently submitted to the Donor Agency.
XI. Relief Package:
Each of the selected families will be provided with a package of the following items.
Sl. No. Items. Units. Families.
1. Rice 10 kg. 1,000
2. Dul. 1 kg. 1,000
3. Soybean. 1. kg. 1,000
4. ORS. 10 packet. 1,000
5. WFT. 20 piece. 1,000
6. Potato. 1 1,000
7 House repairing. 1. 300
8. Latrine support. 1 2,000
10. Seed capital support for IGAs for women 1 2,000
XII. Budget:
Sebika Songstha(SS) Bangladesh proposes a budget of approximately $22,657 for the emergency rehabilitation assistance activity. An illustrative budget is attached.
Sebika Songstha(SS).
Budget for Emergency Humanitarian Response to Cyclone CIDR’ 2007
Alayerpur,Mirwarishpur and Chayainy Unions of Begumgonj Upazilla of Noakhali, District of Bangladesh
Illustrative Budget
Items Unit Cost (Taka) Total Cost.
A. Emergency Relief Activities:
1. Rice-10 kg. Tk.40/- kg x 10x 1,000 400,000
2. Dul-1 kg. Tk.70/- kg x 1000 70,000
3. Soybean-1 kg. Tk.100/- kg x 1000 100,000
4. Salt-1 kg Tk.20/- per kg x 1000 20,000
5. Potato-2 kg Tk.45/- per family x 1000 45,000
6. ORS-10 Tk.6/- piece x 1000 x 10 60,000
7. WFT-20 Tk.15/- per family x 1000 15,000
Sub-Total: 710,000
B. Emergency Rehabilitation Activities:
1. House repairing for 50 families Tk.10,000/- per family x 50 5,00,000
2. Economic rehabilitation activities for 100 Tk.3000/- per family x 100 900,000
3 Latrine (ring and slab) for 200 families Tk.700/- per family x 200 140,000
Sub-total: 7300,000
Total: 1440,000
1. Overhead cost 7% for transports, maintenance, conveyance, volunteers’ refreshment etc. 100700
Grand Total: 1540800
US Dollar. (BDT.68/-=$1) $ 22,657
Total required project cost Dollar =Twenty two thousand, Six hundred Fifty Seven only.
Abu Masud
Executive Director
Sebika Songstha(SS) Bank Details = Sabika Songstha.
Agargoan Branch,
A/ C , No # 497 Sonali Bank
Dhaka Bangladesh
To
The Chief Executive,
. Submission of Emergency Relief for SIDR Project Proposal
Dear Sir,
Greetings from Sebika Songstha(SS).
You are well aware about the recent CIDR situation of Bangladesh, which has covered whole over the country and affected most of the parts of the country is coastal belts and affected nearly 150,00,000 people and damages and loses are unlimited, which is approximately 10,000 thousand crore of Bangladesh Taka. Like other areas our working areas Alayerpur, and Mirwarishpur Union of Begumgonj Upazilla of Noakhali District has severely affected, where Sebika Songstha(SS) has been working on disaster risk reduction program. Already many people of AlayerpuUnion have died, and alive people have taken shelter in high places like embankments, road sides, schools, religious institutions etc. to save their lives, who have been suffering much from food, shelter, medicines, clothes, sanitation facilities, etc.Sebika Songstha(SS)’s trained people have been working to save these sheltered people in different places and they have been providing primary health education, sanitation education and facilities, ORS, dry foodstuffs, etc. to the very poor sheltered families. The UNO and other government Officials, UzDMC and UDMC members are requesting us to under take relief and rehabilitation program intensively to save and rehabilitate the severely affected and sheltered poor families in Begumgonj Upazilla. You are aware that we have developed many staffs, volunteers and beneficiaries in working Unions, who have been working still and who help us to implement the Relief and Rehabilitation Program. Your are aware that recent CIDR has damaged 95% and destroyed many houses, standing crops, livestock, etc. 95% and have made the beneficiaries have less, who are passing days in miseries and painful conditions in the shelter places in Begumgonj Upazilla District, because, they have taken shelters in different high places to save their lives leaving their houses .Sebika Songstha(SS) has already provided them primary relief support for saving their lives. After return from the shelter places, they will not have food, shelter and will have suffered different diseases. So, now they need relief materials, medicines, and rehabilitation supports. So, we are requesting you to provide relief and rehabilitation support to the affected families of our working areas. So, they could be able to rebuild their lost and damages. Please extend your kind helping hands and cooperation and help us to rehabilitate the beneficiaries.
Anticipating your cordial cooperation and looking forward to hearing from you soon.
With best wishes and kind regards,
Sincerely yours,
Md. Abu Masud
Executive Director.
Encl: Relief and Rehabilitation Project Proposal.