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Our humanitarian action

Heavier rains than usual at the end of July and early August 2011 have caused flooding in 13 of the 64 districts of Bangladesh. Three southwestern districts of Bangladesh namely Satkhira, Khulna and Jessore are the worst hit by severe water logging, since they are in very low-lying coastal areas.

The floods and prolonged water logging have caused significant population displacements, resulting in humanitarian challenges in safe water supply, sanitation, shelter and food security.  There has been disruption to livelihoods and serious damage to agricultural crops as well. According to The Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) and the Join Needs Assessment done by 20 NGOs, over 800,000 people are affected in Satkhira alone.

Initial assessments indicate that Satkhira is the worst affected of the 3 coastal districts. Within Satkhira district, Tala Upazila is the worst hit, with 165 805 badly affected households.

Emergency Humanitarian aid in favour of communities affected by floods and water-logging

Duration: September 2011 - January 2012.

Location: Unions- Jalalpur, Kheshra and Khaliskhali, Upazila- Tala, District- Satkhira.

Number of beneficiaries: 8000 households.

• Food security support:

1500 targeted households will receive income through ‘Cash for Work’ activities in a timely manner to enable them to purchase food or other immediate needs to meet their daily requirements and to reduce food related vulnerabilities. Earth works, plinth raising and road construction will be the priority under this activity. A ‘Cash for Training’ programme has been designed to provide assistance to disabled persons, senior citizens and women-headed households affected by flash floods so that they can afford adequate food within their locality. The training will cover mother and childcare, water and hygiene sessions, homestead gardening and emergency preparedness and response. About 1000 households will receive this training.

• Water access:

Re-establishment of water sources through the provision of tube wells is a crucial factor in enabling populations to return to their homes and rebuild their lives. Provision of safe drinking water supplies will also improve overall hand washing as well as hygiene among women and adolescent girls. 20 deep tube-wells will be installed for the targeted 600 households.
There are also several community water infrastructures like the tube-wells and ponds which were destroyed due to floods and standing water. 140 damaged tube-wells will be rehabilitated for 4200 households to ensure that the community has easy access to water for drinking and domestic use.

• Sanitation access and Hygiene promotion:

Emergency latrines are a temporary solution for displaced persons still living on embankments. In total, 250 latrines will be built. 2500 affected households will be provided with hygiene kits and will be trained in hygiene practices to prevent the outbreak of diseases following the flooding. On the embankment, in communal shelters and on roads, women are more exposed to harassment due to overcrowding. Moreover, lack of privacy makes them reluctant to adopt good hygiene practices. 66 women's bathing areas will be built so that 3300 beneficiaries can use them.

• Shelter and distribution of essential items:

The most marginalized section of the community does not have the resources to repair their homes on their own. Financial support or new materials will be provided to these communities so that they are able to build their shelter and return to their permanent habitation. About 270 severely damaged homes will be repaired. The shelter kits comprise a tarpaulin, bamboo and ropes, which will be provided to 1300 households to take care of their immediate shelter needs. 2500 targeted households will receive winter kits since the winter season will commence within months. Winter kits comprise two shawls, two blankets and two childrens' pullovers.

Update : November 2011