Description of the disaster: Cyclone Amphan in Bangladesh
Cyclone Amphan formed on 16 May 2020 over the Indian Ocean and started moving north over the Bay of Bengal, towards north-east India coastal areas and south of Bangladesh. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD)‟s special weather bulletin dated 19 May, the „super cyclone‟ Amphan was lying over west central Bay and adjoining area and moved north to northeast wards and over same area and was centred at 06:00 of 19 May about 890km southwest of Chattagram port, 840km southwest of Cox‟s Bazar port, 785km south-southwest of Mongla port. It was forecasted likely to move in a north-easterly direction and may cross Bangladesh coast between KhulnaChattogram during late night of 19 May to afternoon/evening of 20 May.
On 20 May, the BMD issued “great danger”2 signal number 10 for costal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal, Laxmipur, Chandpur and their off-shore islands and chars.
Under the influence of the „very severe‟ cyclonic storm Amphan, it was anticipated that Feni, Chattagram and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 4 to 5 feet height above the normal astronomical tide. The total coastal districts were likely to experience wind speed up to 140 to 160kmph in gusts/squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of storm. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to take shelter immediately and will remain in the shelter till further notice. Following the great danger signal and evacuation order of the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), more than 2.4 million people were moved to 14,636 permanent and temporary shelters in 19 coastal districts before the cyclone hit the country's coast. During this time, the number of shelters has been increased considering the physical distancing norm and guidelines due to COVID-19.
Cyclone Amphan had weakened from a super cyclone to an "extremely severe cyclonic storm" between the 20th and the 21st May 2020, causing strong winds and heavy rain in parts of Odisha, West Bengal in India and Bangladesh coastal areas as it advanced towards the India-Bangladesh coast. On 20 May 2020, it slammed into the coastal districts of West Bengal, India and then it entered Bangladesh at evening with wind speed of 150kmph and drove its destruction among 26 districts across the country.
Super Cyclone Amphan hit Bangladesh on 20 May 2020. According to different sources, Cyclone Amphan affected more than a million people in 9 (nine) districts in Khulna and Barishal divisions of Bangladesh.
In Bangladesh, 330,667 houses were damaged including 55,667 totally destroyed in 9 most impacted districts: Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola, Noakhali, and Jessore. According to preliminary reports collected by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), the cyclone led to the internal displacement of at least 100,000 persons who are currently staying on embankments and in houses of their friends and relatives, and different shelters as well.
This time Cyclone -Amphan damaged almost all the houses of the village, tidal surge breached the embankment and flooded the entire village. People are now helpless, staying on the embankment, under the open sky without any sanitation facilities available. They urgently need food, hygiene support, and cash to rebuild their houses. But our resources are limited, we need more support to provide important services to hundreds of people in cyclone-hit districts in Bangladesh.
SAWAB (Social Agency for Welfare and Advancement in Bangladesh) with its Volunteer and team is helping the people of Shyamnagar, Assashuni and Kaliganj Upazila in Shatkhira district with food and safe drinking water.
Flood water pouring through villages have left a million of people homeless, washed away roads, and damaged crops. In this situation, we should stand with the Cyclone (Amphan) & flood victims in their hour of needs. You have the power to save a life today. In this crisis moment, we need your helping hand to save the lives of flood victims people in Bangladesh.
The overall Impacts of Cyclone Amphan and its made flood in Bangladesh:
26 people were killed
55,667 houses were completely damaged, and around 275,000 partially damaged approximately 149,000 hectares of agriculture lands and fish farms worth about BDT 3.25
billion (CHF 36 million) were damaged millions of trees were uprooted
150kms of protection embankments were washed away at 84 points in 13 districts 200 bridges and culverts, and 100km of roads were damaged about15millionclientslostelectricity•manyfreshwaterpondsinsideforestswere
flooded with seawater
approximately 18,235 water points and 40,894 latrines were destroyed in most impacted districts
preliminary estimates of total cost of damages caused by the cyclone is BDT 11 billion (CHF 123 million)
ThecoastalregionofCox’sBazardidnotsufferthebruntofthecycloneexceptforsome minor wind damages and heavy rains.
Cyclone Amphan/ Flood victims need relief support
A remarkable number of photographs related to flood were published in daily newspapers during cyclone Amphan/ flood time. Those photographs spoke on the sufferings of cyclone affected people across the country. Flood victims still need food support and hygiene kits for their livelihood as their crops were destroyed by flood water even their living houses. Many of them particularly the poor people are passing their days in need due to their huge lose of asset and crops by flood.
For post flood relief operation, the government also needed support from non-governmental organizations and local people at large. We, SAWAB are continuing to deliver life-saving aids to people who are greatly hampered by flood. Please stand with the Cyclone/flood victims in their hour of needs. You have the power to save a life today.
Specific Objective of the Program:
To provide Food & Hygiene Kits support to 2,000 cyclone Amphan/ flood victim families
Project Description:
Through this Program SAWAB intends to distribute 2,000 food packages among about 10,000 beneficiaries of 2,000 extremely Cyclone Amphan/ flood affected families. Estimation has been made that US$ 30,975.73 or BDT 2,540,000.00 would be required to implement this project.
Beneficiaries of the Program:
A total of some 10,000 beneficiaries of 2,000 families are targeted to be benefited from this Food & Hygiene Kits which will cover families and individuals who are unable to collect daily food and medicine as they have lost everything in the cyclone made flood. The individual beneficiaries will be selected by the implementing partner / office having discussion with community level or local bodies.
Output of the Project:
Specific outputs expected from this project are listed below:
1. This project will provide food & hygiene kits that will cover about 10,000 individuals of 2,000 flood victim families.
2. Smiling faces of thousand people will help to create a happy community as well as social tie will be strengthening.
3. This project will strengthen the tie of International Brotherhood.
