Report from Bangladesh

Habitat for Humanity International - Bangladesh
FLOOD SITUATION REPORT AS Of AUGUST 5, 2007
Overall Situation in Bangladesh
Due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchments and monsoon rainfall in inland of Bangladesh continuous rise of water in almost all the rivers in the country's north, northeastern and middle parts left nearly a million people marooned causing immense sufferings to them and damage to crops. According to the DMIC (the government disaster alert agency) total 22097.68 sq. km is inundated by flood water and 7889414 people are affected (but the daily newspapers reported that over 25 million people are now under water). This source also reports that 38 districts (total 64 districts) of Bangladesh are now under water and within very short time most of the districts will go under water. The DMIC also reported that nearly 532732 numbers of houses are damaged (fully 52297 & partially 480435) by the flood water in the whole country. DMIC and the Daily Star also reported, (August 4, 2007), at least 110 people have died (1080 numbers of livestock) and the affected people are now living in 1241 shelters (284335 people are at shelter now) including school building and government shelter and others temporary shelters.
According to the DMIC report on August 01, 2007 most of the rivers in Bangladesh are flowed minimum +4 cm to +180 cm above danger level. The great river Padma is flowing +131cm at Goalundo, Jamuna is flowing +117 &+112 cm at Serajgonj & Aricha and the Durgapur flood forecasting station reported that the Someswari river in Netrokona is flowing the highest above the danger level (+180cm). But right now the water of upper districts are flowing to the downer districts and the water level of the down stream is rising gradually and everyday it flooded new areas. The newspapers and electronic media are forecasting that within 2/3 days the low-lying areas of Bangladesh would be inundated by the upstream flow and the upper areas will be rising.
At the eastern part of the Capital city, three quarters of Bashabo, Nandipara and Trimohini went under water. Boats have become the only mode of transport in those areas. According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), more parts of the Dhaka city are likely to be inundated in the next few days. The Daily Star again reported that within the next 48 hours, the water levels of the rivers surrounding Dhaka would rise sharply and most of the lower part of Dhaka likely to be inundated and Disaster Management Bureau of Bangladesh are preparing School & College building for flood shelter as of flood 1998.
More and more people are taking shelters at the higher places, mostly embankments, where scarcity of food and drinking water becoming acute by the day, while water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera and skin diseases have become almost a regular phenomenon. International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) reported that hospital had to set up tents yesterday for the ever-increasing number of diarrhoea and cholera patients overwhelming the hospital and now it has at least 500 patients. Most of the patients were from the low-lying areas of Dhaka city and they were infected with diarrhoea and cholera by drinking impure water. These situations are found all over the flooded areas (The Daily Star, August 5, 2007).
Government and different agencies are handing out food, potable drinking water and medicine at relief camps. UNDP and EU already donated 2 millions of US dollar as relief.
The Scenario of Habitat Housing
Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh is already celebrated 1064 homes build in Bangladesh. Most of the homes are built in safe environment/places but due to the geographical location of Bangladesh; most of the land except hilly areas have possibilities to be inundated by the flood water during this year. The recent reports from the Habitat working area depict that the 138 numbers of houses are partially inundated and it has possibility to be fully inundated. It is also noted that 214 numbers of home owners has lost their livelihood options and now are living in difficulties situation. They lost their cattle and crops, and some are now jobless due to the flood in that area. The data shows that among the working areas Jessore will be the most affected to the flood water. The above mention information and the bellow data show that the affected family will not able to pay the repayment installment regularly as because of the flood.

The data below shows the actual scenario of flood affected Habitat housing in Bangladesh.
Number of homes flood affected : fully 0, Partially 138
Number of homes at risk : 117
Number of homeowners lost livelihood options : 214
Percentage of flood affected homeowners : 31
Action Taken By Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh
Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh is not well enough to response this emergency situation and it has also limitations to provide food or other items except shelter. In this moment Habitat Bangladesh is-
Closely monitoring the situation;
Observing the total situation and collecting all the up-dated information;
Keeping telephonic contact with Habitat Resource Centers and Satellites;
Keeping effective liaison with Governmental Organizations & other relevant agencies.
Recommendation
Need to visit affected areas.
Need to provide food and non food assistance to the victims.
Need to provide Oral Rehydration Salt & Water Purification Tablets to the victims.
Need to arrange temporary shelter for few months.
Need to arrange repayment installments for few months.
What Habitat Bangladesh wants to do?
Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh observes the situation and wants to take the following initiatives for recovery their distressful situation.
Give financial support for Habitat repayment for 3/4 months;
Install and build damage tube-well and Latrine for affected home owners;
Building temporary shelter for inundated home owners.
Source of Information
Situation Report from other agencies.
Mobile communication with Habitat Resource Centers coordinators.
Newspaper & TV news and Website.
Communication with other relevant agencies.