Emergency and Humanitarian Action South East Asia Region World Health Organization Highlights No. 3 15 June to 15 July 2004 Bangladesh Map of Danger Levels of Flood in Bangladesh: From the GIS of the Bangladesh Center for Health Emergency Preparedness As of 15 July 2004 Event : Floods For the past week, heavy to moderate torrential rains and raging waters from across the border of Bangladesh continued to worsen the monsoon flood situation in the north-eastern and the northwestern part of Bangladesh. So far, 18 of 64 districts have been reported to be affected by this current deluge. The districts affected the most include Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Bogra, Sirajganj, Sherpur, Faridpur, Rajbari, Bhola, Barisal, Sylhet, Sunamganj and Moulvi Bazar. The Control Room of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management is still in the process of compiling a detailed damage report on the affected areas. As such, government estimates on the damage incurred by the present deluge is still not be available. The Government of Bangladesh has reported that the floods have claimed 18 lives with over 6.3 million affected. Over 38,000 people displaced have taken refuge in 129 temporary flood shelters set-up by the District Administration. 82,025 acres of agricultural land have been inundated and 50,000 homes completely damaged. Evolution of the Situation : The floods are one of the worst in recent years as all of the country s main river sytems, the Jamuna (Bhramaputra), Padma (Ganges) and Meghna began to rise simultaneously flooding the Northwest, Northeast and Central regions. According to the Flood Forecasting and Monitoring Center of the Government of Bangladesh, the over all monsoon flood situation in Bangladesh is likely to deteriorate if heavy rainfall ensues. Currently, the situation has stabilized without any deterioration in the past 24 hours. In some areas in the north-east and north west parts of the country waters have started to recede and torrential rains have stopped. However, more lowlands and central districts including Dhaka are likely to experience flooding due floodwater flow from higher ground in the next 72 hours. The Communicable Disease Control Unit of DGHS confirmed that there would be no shortage of drugs and emergency medical supplies if any emergency medical relief programme is to be continued in the affected areas for a contracted period in view of the current monsoon flood. Surveillance and monitoring of diseases is a high priority activity. The local governments and authorities are responding to the situation which include: Deployment of mobile medical teams to affected areas and displaced people in temporary shelters; Routine disease surveillance strengthened; Control rooms in the district health and Directorate of General Health Services have been activated; and
Despatch of necessary medical and essential supplies for distribution and pre-positioning in the districts The EHA Country staff of WHO-Bangladesh with its National Counter part the Bangladesh Center for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response are working together to manage the emergency. EHA-WHO Bangladesh and BCHEPR are in close contact with the Disease Control unit of the DGHS as well as with the local health authorities of the affected districts in order to assess whether any assistance is required from WHO for responding to the present flood situation in the country. The following activities are being carried out by EHA Bangladesh: Technical and Managerial support is provided by the EHA WHO Bangladesh Monitoring health situation and possible outbreaks using the early Warning System to support health intelligence Necessary technical assistance is being provided to the Disease Control Unit of the DGHS The EHA Country staff of WHO-Bangladesh, under the overall guidance of WR-Bangladesh, is monitoring the present flood situation in the country apart from providing technical assistance to the national health authority for coordinating the on-going emergency response operation. Map of Flood Affected Districts: From the GIS of the Bangladesh Center for Health Emergency Preparedness No formal request has, so far, been received by the WHO Country Office in Bangladesh from the national health authority for any assistance in view of the present flood situation. From a report by: Dr Mamunur Rahman Malik, EHA Focal Point, WHO Bangladesh Sources of Information: Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services; Communicable Disease Control Unit, Directorate General of Health Services; Control Room of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management Flood Control and Monitoring Center, (http://www.ffwc.net) Government of Bangladesh
India Map of Assam Flooded Areas As of 14 July 2004 Event : Floods- Uttranchal, West Bengal, Assam and Bihar States Uttaranchal Flash floods hit the hilly region of Uttaranchal state (6 July 2004) where 4,000 people mostly pilgrims were stranded and over 20 died. The rains brought by the monsoon have begun inundating the northeast region since mid-june. Rescue efforts have been conducted by the State and District Governments where the Chamooi district has been the center of operations. West Bengal 6 people died in a landslide in the hilly region of Darjeeling in West Bengal. Hundreds of people were stranded due mainly to the overflow of the Mahisbari and Teetsa Rivers. Assam The state of Assam is experiencing it s first phase of floods due to the incessant rains since last week of June over Assam and the neighboring country Bhutan and states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, & Nagaland. Source: Center of Excellence For Disaster Management and Humanitarian Action At http://www.pdmin.coe-dmha.org/apdr Map of Flooded Areas in Assam From a total of 28 districts, so far 23 districts have been affected. The districts are Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Shivsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagoan, Morigaon, Kamrup, Kamrup Metro, Darrang, Sonitpur, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Berpetta, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Dhubri, Chirang, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj and Hailakhandi but Kamrup and Nalbari, Darrang, Sonitpur, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur are the worst affected districts. This flood has caused widespread damage to human life and property, standing crops, flood control embankments and other basic infrastructure. Vast area of human habitation is under waters in the affected districts and people have taken shelter on the embankments 2,794 villages have so far been affected by the first phase of floods this year affecting a population of 2.5 million approximately 14,320 houses have been washed away and 25,000 houses have been partially damaged (approximate figures). 13 deaths (official figures) Total crop area affected is estimated to be 400,000 hectares. All district administration have taken steps for relief and rescue operation. The officials of all line departments have been asked to assist the district administration in the relief and rescue operations
Army and Air Force assistance have been utilized in rescue operation. 3 Air Force helicopters are engaged for rescue of marooned people of Kamrup, Nalbari and other lower Assam districts. Army speed boats are also utilized for rescue of the affected people. Funds have been earmarked for distribution of relief materials like food stuff, drinking water, medicine, fodder, veterinary care to the cattle population. The state government has requested the Railways for allotment of additional rakes of essential commodities, due to snapping of road communication at several places. Needs: The state government has requested the Central Government to place 3 helicopters at Guwahati airport and 1 each in Silchar, Tezpur, Jorhat and Dibrugarh respectively for carrying out the rescue operations. Locally available boats are inadequate for the rescue operations and the state government has requested the Central Government to airlift 300 nos. of motorized boats and other boats as well. Bihar With continuous rain for the past week water level of the several rivers in the following districts: Suapaul, Dharbhanga, Bhagalpur, W Champaran, Mauzzafarpur, Sitamarhi, Khangaria, Shcochar, Madhubhani rose to cause floods in the area. 25 people have died; 2339 villages affected with an estimated population of 9.17 million. 221,152 houses were destroyed. Damage estimated at a value of 1.37 million rupees which includes crop damage (Rs 64 000 million). Map of Flooded Areas of Bihar Rescue and relief were conducted by the state government. Food distribution was also conducted and air-dropped by the Indian Air Force (7863 packets). Support in the provision of tents from Orissa (300) and Gujarat (300) State Governments Release of Rs 305.25 million by central government Relief Materials Distributed by the government include: Food Items : 1175.72 QLS Plastic Sheetings: 17550 EHA Focal Point in WHO Office India is in close contact with the Ministries of Health and Home Affairs for any needs and requests. No requests for assistance has been received. From a report by: Dr Bipin Verma, EHA Focal Point WHO India Office Sources of Information : Government Report; UNDP Team, Media Reports, NGOs in Assam
Nepal As of 14 July 2004 Event : Floods Constant and heavy rains fall in the eastern and central regions of Nepal, for last few days, caused moderate to severe floods in different locations, which affected several of Tarai (low land) and a few hill (high land) districts. From the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) and the Nepalese Red Cross Society (NRCS) the following data were collected: o 69 deaths confirmed o 25 districts affected o 215 Village Development Committees affected o 19 persons missing o 19 injured o 12, 127 families displaced o 18,037 families affected o 1,250 houses completely destroyed o 1,670 houses partially destroyed Royal Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police, who are based in the affected districts, were immediately mobilized to provide rescue and relief support to the flood affected people, and as per the MOHA report, most of the affected people were successfully rescued from the severely flooded areas. District Disaster Relief Committees have been mobilized to coordinate the rescue and relief efforts with all the stakeholders at local level. Besides, the relief supplies (i.e. tarpaulins, food items etc.) were distributed by the local and central relief committees. As mentioned in the NRCS report and said during the discussions, the NRCS district and local chapters in the affected areas were heavily mobilized in providing and supporting rescue and relief activities in the affected districts. Red Cross distributed Tarpaulins, Foods, Vegetables and Cloths to various affected locations. The health emergencies supplies (e.g. medicines and equipments), had been already pre-positioned, in all the regional stores before monsoon started, the local health authorities and facilities are utilizing these supplies for emergency response. Besides, the pre-positioned supplies, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) had dispatched additional items today. The MOH / DHS through its local health authorities provide emergency health services through its regional and district health facilities. The rapid response teams of affected districts play instrumental role in this process. As shared, the central level health authority remains alert to send additional supports in case requested by regional and district health authorities. The WHO EHA team under the overall guidance of WR Nepal has been instrumental in coordination with NRCS, MOHA and other stakeholders, particularly maintaining a flow of information. In connection to assistance for emergency health response, the MOH/DHS/EDCD has not made any request to WHO for additional assistance. From a report by Mr Umesh Kattel, National Operations Officer, EHA WHO Nepal Sources of Information : The Ministry of Home Affairs, Singhadarbar, Kathmandu Nepal;The Nepal Red Cross Society, Central Office, Kalimati, Kathmandu, Nepal; The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, DHS, Teku, Kathmandu, Nepal.