Bangladesh: Cold Wave

DREF operation n° MDRBD00814 January 2011

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent emergency response. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation’s disaster response system and increases the ability of National Societies to respond to disasters.

CHF 253,527 (USD 235,418 or EUR 202,822) has been allocated from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) in delivering immediate assistance to some 100,000 beneficiaries. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged. Summary: A severe cold wave with dense fog has been sweeping through all over Bangladesh since 7 January 2011. According to the Meteorological Department, the temperature is recorded as being 2 to 5 degrees Celsius less than the normal average temperature during this time of the year. The cold wave claimed more than 30 lives most of who are children and elderly. Hospitals in the affected districts have reported higher numbers of admissions with cold weather related illness. The cold wave has added misery to people living under poverty line and who are exposed to recurring floods in the northern districts of Bangladesh. Women, children and the elderly are major victims of cold related disease like respiratory illnesses. Their plight increases especially during the night due to non-availability of warm clothes. The current temperature of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius is considered to be very low for Bangladeshi standards. The government has so far distributed 25,500 blankets in Rangpur division and the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management is expected to allocate more warm clothes soon. And the government distributed 60,500 blankets all over the country among the distressed population. However, the government assistance is inadequate to cover a large number of affected population. In addition to the government distribution, several humanitarian organizations including university students, business community, local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have responded to the cold wave with warm clothes collections in rural and urban poor. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) have undertaken a rapid assessment of the cold wave

Marginal Farmer and their family burnt firewood to keep warm. Photo Source: SK Foundation Bangladesh

areas and the national society has already distributed sleeping bags to the urban poor of Dhaka city. Supported byIFRC, BDRCS will assist up to 20,000 severely affected families or 100,000 people with the distribution of a package of warm clothes, Support per family will comprise of a one time distribution of two blankets, one shawl and one woollen cap. This operation is expected to be implemented over three months, and will therefore be completed by 15 April 2011; and a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 15 July 2011). <click here for the DREF budget; here for contact details;here to view the map of the affected area>

The situation Bangladesh is reeling under the bitterly cold weather from the beginning of January 2011. A mild cold wave started sweeping over the country causing sufferings to the poor people. The wind blowing from the Himalayas has intensified the cold in the northern region. Especially in the northern and western districts of the country, the ‘sub-Himalayan’ weather is severely affecting the normal life. Single figured temperature with cold winds and severe fog is prevailing in many of the affected districts and meteorological office warns that temperature will go further down. Minimum temperatures at Rajshahi district on 10 January was recorded as 5 degrees Celsius, Jessore district 8 degrees Celsius, Chuadanga district 7.2 degrees, and in Dinajpur district 6.7 degrees. In Rajshahi, this is the lowest recorded temperature after 2003. So far the cold wave claimed more than 30 lives most of whom are children and the elderly. Hospitals in the affected districts have reported higher numbers of admissions with cold weather related illness. The cold wave has also caused crop and other natural resource loss, which will have a longer term negative impact on the economic situation of the country. According to the Meteorological Department, temperature of different districts on 10 January are given in the following table:

The people in Rangpur, Panchagar, Thakurgaon, Dinazpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, and Gaibandha districts have been badly exposed to the cold wave. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) reported that the weather is likely to remain dry with partly cloudy sky over the country. Mild cold wave is sweeping over the regions of Srimangal, Rajshahi, Pabna, Dinajpur, Jessore and Kushtia districts, and it may continue. The current cold wave is likely to continue for a further two to three days and will cause immense sufferings to the poor and homeless people living under the open sky. The temperature is quite low for Bangladeshi standards. It is ranging from 4 to10 degrees Celsius. The prediction from the Meteorological Department is that it will go lower and it has been the lowest since 2003. Poverty, poor dwellings, seasonal unemployment problem, winter crop failure due to cold and geographical location as the areas are in the foothills of the Himalayas lead to the increase of vulnerability of the people.

Name of the District Lowest Temperature(in degree Celsius)

Rajshahi 5

Tetulia Between 4 to 5

Dinajpur 6.3

Panchagarh 6.09

Rangpur 10

Chuadanga 7.2

Pabna 7.6

Although the cold wave has affected the whole country, it has added misery to people living under poverty line and exposed to recurring floods of districts in the northern part of Bangladesh. The moderate to severe cold associated with heavy fog and wind has continued for the past two weeks. The cold wave affected people are mostly young children and the aged from poor and low-income families living in straw huts and fragile dwellings exposed to the chilly winds blowing from the north, as they also lack sufficient warm clothing. There are widespread reports of people wrapping themselves with gunny and plastic bags, mosquito nets, etc. BMD’s representative said that “another bitter cold wave is likely to sweep over the country” in the coming weeks. According to the BDRCS district unit sources, the government has so far distributed 25,500 blankets in Rangpur division and the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management is expected to allocate more warm clothes soon. The government also distributed 60,500 blankets all over the country among the distressed population. However, the government assistance is inadequate to cover a large number of affected population. In addition to the government distribution, several humanitarian organizations including university students, business community, local NGOs have responded to the cold wave with warm clothes in rural and urban poor. Coordination and partnerships Coordination between the European Commission of Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) and BDRCS has been established in terms of possibility of exploring support for humanitarian assistance to the cold affected vulnerable population. Discussions were held between BDRCS/IFRC and the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management in targeting geographical locations. In addition, BDRCS units of most affected districts in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions have been maintaining contact with district administration for identifying remote locations/pocket remain uncovered by government or other organizations for BDRCS possible intervention. Within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement responses, discussions were held between BDRCS and partner national societies to divert allocation of Chapainawabganj district to other affected areas as the Swiss Red Cross is planning to distribute blankets among the affected people of this district. BDRCS’s national headquarters has been communicating with BMDto monitor the weather situation. In addition, BDRCS has been gathering situation updates from different agencies including the network for information, response and preparedness activities on disaster (NIRAPAD). Through BDRCS, local coordination units will be made between BDRCS and other social organizations in maximizing the coverage of assistance. Since BDRCS/IFRC are active members of the Disaster Emergency Response (DER) group, information and operation updates will be shared with other humanitarian agencies and the national government in order to avoid any overlapping of distribution. Red Cross and Red Crescent action BDRCS and IFRC have been closely monitoring the situation. The BDRCS response department conducted an assessment on the situation through its branch offices located in northern, eastern and north-eastern parts of the country. Some of the branches has collected old warm cloths from the local city centres and are planning to distribute among the poor affected people. The IFRC country office has been closely monitoring the situation. A meeting was held between IFRC and ECHO on 2 January 2011. The meeting discussed about the current cold wave situation in the country as well as possible interventions. Since there is a forecast from the Meteorological department of further deterioration of the cold wave, IFRC continues to discuss with BDRCS for immediate response. IFRC and BDRCS joint disaster preparedness stock has been reviewed for quick dispatch. The fleet and national and regional disaster response teams (NDRT/RDRT) are kept on standby for deployment to assist local units in case of response operation. Currently, the BDRCS/IFRC response team is in the field to assess the real situation and to send first hand information. BDRCS request for possible response to cold wave situation in the country was discussed in the movement partners coordination meeting held on 11 January 2011. BDRCS has also discussed with partner national socieites (British Red Cross, German Red Cross and Swiss Red Cross) to coordinate geographical areas, package and beneficiaries in case of any response. The needs According to BMD’s weather bulletin, the cold wave is likely to continue for the next two weeks and temperature may fall down. This means the situation will continue to cause severe suffering for the poor people in the northern and north western districts. According to a networking NGO report, the death toll has reached to 45 across the country of which more than 60 per cent is recorded in Rangpur division.

Through government and different humanitarian agencies/organizations including BDRCS local units, different social organizations like Prohom Alo Bandhu Shova (national daily Prothom Alo’s readers forum) and so on responded swiftly to the cold wave, response is found to be inadequate. Thousands of people are still in need of assistance. Under the ongoing cold wave response, assistance in terms of warm clothes need to be provided to most vulnerable populations, i.e. wage earners, agriculture labour, the street people, internally displaced, and so on in identified priority district as mentioned in the table below. Women, the elderly, children, and persons with disability will be given priority for the assistance. The proposed operation The proposed operation is based on available information from the government and initial assessments carried out jointly by BDRCS and IFRC, as well as based on the capacity of the BDRCS. With support from the IFRC DREF allocation, package of warm clothes will be procured and distributed to 20,000 severely affected families in 16 districts. Relief distributions (food and basic non-food items) Outcome: 20,000 families received warm cloths are better protected from the effect of cold wave. Outputs and activities planned: 20,000 families (100,000 individuals) will receive warm package, each includes two (2) blankets, one (1) shawl and one (1) woollen cap,in 16 districts to withstand the cold weather. Activities planned: • Door to door assessments. • Beneficiary registration. • Procurement of relief items according to IFRC standard procedures. • Dispatch and transportation by BDRCS to the distribution sites. • Storage and distribution of relief items, especially at unit level. • Distribution by trained Red Crescent Youth volunteers. • Regular detailed monitoring and reporting of distributions. • Ongoing monitoring and technical advice by the BDRCS national headquarters and IFRC.

Supported byIFRC, BDRCS will assist up to 20,000 severely affected families (100,000 individuals) with the distribution of warm packages. Each family under support will receive a one-time distribution of two blankets, one shawl and one woollen cap. The distribution plan for families per district are as follows: Table: District-wise allocation

SL District Upazila No. of families 1 Panchagar Tentulia, Boda, Debiganj

Atwari 1,500

2. Thagurgaon Baliadangi, Ranishankail Haripur

1,500

3 Dinajpur Kaharul, Birganj, Birol Bochaganj

1,500

4 Rangpur Gangachhara, Taraganj Pirganj, Mithapukur Badarganj

2,000

5. Lalmonirhat Patgram, Hatibanda Kaliganj

1,000

6. Kurigram Raumari, Ulipur, Chilmari Nageswari,Rajibpur

2,000

7. Nilphamari Dimla,Domar,Jaldhaka Kishorganj

1,000

8 Gaibandha Fulchhari,Saghata Sundarganj,Sadar

1,000

10 Rajshahi Godagari,Tanore,Bagmara 1,000 10 Chapainawabganj Sibganj,Nachole,Gomastapur 1,000 11 Naogaon Badalgachi,Patnitala

Mahadebpur 1,000

12 Natore Lalpur,Singra,Boroigram 1,000

Gurudaspur 13. Joypurhat Panchbibi,Khetlal,Kalai 1,000 14 Bogra Sariakandi,Dhunat 1,000 15 Pabna Ishwardi,Chatmohar

Santhia ,Sujanagar 1,000

16 Sirajganj Chowhali,Belkuchi Kajipur,Shahjadpur

1,500

Total 20,000

How we work

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

The IFRC’s vision is to: Inspire, encourage, facilitate and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies, with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering, and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.

The IFRC’s work is guided by Strategy 2020 which puts forward three strategic aims: 1. Save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen

recovery from disaster and crises. 2. Enable healthy and safe living. 3. Promote social inclusion and a culture of non-

violence and peace.

Contact information For further information specifically related to this operation please contact: Bangladesh Red Crescent Society:

• Capt (Retd) Abu Bakar, Secretary General, email:bdrcs@bangla.net, phone: +88.02.935.2226 IFRC Bangladesh country office:

• Mr. Udaya Kumar Regmi, Head of office, email: udaya.regmi@ifrc.org, phone: +88.02.933.7314, fax: +88.02.934.1631.

IFRC South Asia regional office, in India: • Mr. Azmat Ulla, Head of regional office, Email: azmat.ulla@ifrc.org, phone: +91 11 2411 1122, fax: +91 11

2411 1128. • Michael Higginson, Regional programme coordinator; phone: +91.11.2411.1125;

fax: +91.11.2411.1128; email: michael.higginson@ifrc.org.

IFRC Asia Pacific Zone office, in Malaysia: • Al Panico, Acting Head of Operations, email: al.panico@ifrc.org, phone + 603 92075700. • Enkas Chau, Operations Coordinator , email: enkas.chau@ifrc.org, phone: +603 9207 5798; mobile: +6012 305 8332. • Alan Bradbury, Resource Mobilization and Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting, Coordinator,

email: alan.bradbury@ifrc.org. phone: +603 9207 5775.

<DREF budget and map below; click here to return to the title page>

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

MDRBD008 Bangladesh :Cold Wave 11-Jan-11

DREF BUDGET SUMMARYDREF Grant

BudgetTOTAL BUDGET

CHF

200,000 200,000200,000 200,000

769 76921,538 21,538

9,231 9,23131,538 31,538

3,077 3,0772,308 2,308

923 923208 208

6,515 6,515

15,474 15,47415,474 15,474

253,527 253,527TOTAL BUDGET

Total General Expenditure

Program SupportTotal Programme Support

TravelOffice CostsCommunicationsFinancial Charges

StorageDsitribution & MonitoringTransport & Vehicle CostsTotal Transport & Storage

Total Supplies

Budget Group

Clothing & Textiles

PABNA

JESSORE

RAJSHAHI

KUSHTIA

MAULBIBAZAR

RANGPURDINAJPUR

KURIGRAM

GAIBANDHA

NILPHAMARITHAKURGAON

PANCHAGARH

LALMONIRHATIndiaIndia

BangladeshBangladesh

BhutanBhutan

NepalNepal

ChinaChina

Dhaka

The maps used do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red CrescentSocieties or National Societies concerning the legal status of a territory or of its authorities. Map data sources: ESRI, DEVINFO, GADM, International Federation - MDRBD007.mxd

Bangladesh: Cold wave

DREF MDRBD008CW-2011-000004-BGD

14 January 2011

Strong cold wave

Mild cold wave

0 4020km