In an immediate response to Cyclone Sidr hit in the coastal belt on 15 November, 2007, D.Net has reached out to its long-standing network of in-country partners with offers of relief. Three days after Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh with violent winds and a 20-foot surge of water, D.Net sent relief for the affected people and have an need assessment at eight Upazillas in four districts. The districts are Barguna, Bagerhat, Barisal, and Jhalakathi. D.Net team initially measured the losses and finally they put into operation of relief work in the different communities of at least 4 districts which covers near about one thousand family though it is insufficient measuring their loss and actual need.
It is to be mentioned that prior to the SIDR hit the information workers played an important role in evacuating the people in Mongla. A Pallitathya Kendra is operating there in Haldibunia village. D.Net focal point received an email on November 15, 2007 , which reads as follows:
From: Provash Ch. Biswas [mailto:pcb@khulna.bangla.net]
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 1:04 PM
To: Forhad Uddin
Cc: ananya@dnet.org.bd; mahmud@dnet.org.bd; ajoy@dnet.org.bd
Subject: Cyclone is going to heat the Costal area(Mongla).
Dear Forhad Vai,
Greetings from Dhoritry!
You already know that Mongla area is now in the threat of Super Cyclone and the Cyclone can heat the Mongla land today at 3:00 pm or evening time. On behalf of Dhoritry we have taken several measures to aware the people through miking and household visit.
Our mobile lady has already helped many people to get shelters at cyclone shelters at Chila area.
Total 15 staffs & volunteers are working for disaster preparation in the field level. They are now in our mobile phone network to get information’s and act as. Collaborating activities also are going with World Vision Bangladesh also.
If the cyclone heat the Mongla as per present declaration then it will bring a devastating disaster & pain for the people.
Shelter, medical support, food, drinking water, cloths, and other humanitarian supports will be most concern issuues for the people after disaster.
So, this information is for your kind concern and action.
Please pray for the people are in danger of Cyclone.
Thanks. |
It was very painful to know that a big giant is going to kill many people and we have nothing to do. The Pallitathy Kendra probably could save at leatst some lives. Now the Internet connection is helping journalists and relief workers to coordinate among themselves.
D.Net team sat immediately after the cyclone and decided to work in three phase:
- initial phase: November 15 – 25, 2007: Relief and Needs Assessment
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Intermediary phase: December 5 – 15, 2007: More relief and rehabilitation materials based on assessment
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Ultimate phase: December 20 – as long as possible: participation in Rehabilitation
At the initial phase D.Net distributed relief in four districts, basically water purifying tablet, water, food. Total value of relief was BDT....
At the second phase D.Net is going to set 5 deep tube well in five selected location based on FGD in the affected areas. D.Net is also planning to give 3000 light set as the electricity situation will take tie to improve. Volunteers Association for Bangladesh and D.Net staffs raised money for the second phase activities.
D.Net is closely working with a non-resident Bangladeshi initiative UBA for rehabilitation support.
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Damaged houses near Amtoli bazar, Barguna |
Sidr has damaged everything in Barguna. Now it is a district of Death and debacle. About 1500 people died and 4000 have no trace. People who lived by the side of the rivers Bishkhali and Paira have lost everything. They have nothing to eat, no shelter to live, no clothe to put on, no money to buy things, and even no plate to eat. D.Net team worked in highly affected villages in Barguna sadar, Patharghata and Amtoli upazillas. D.Net also distributed some relief with Faria Lara Foundation.
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Relief praparation by D.Net team at Bagerhat |
Bagherhat is another district destroyed by sidr. In this district most affected Upazilla is Mongla. One of the D.Net teams worked there with Pallitathya Kendra in three Unions, named Chandpai, Chilla, and Haldibunia. They collected information from affected people and gave some relief to the victims. Another team worked for need assessment in 24 villages at Bemorta Union at Sadar Upazilla and gave the affected people some relief.
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FGD work at Joimuni, Chilla Union Parishad, Mongla |
Barisal and Jhalakathi also severely affected by Sidr. In this area less people died but loss of wealth is same. D.Net team visited some villages in Barisal sadar and Bakergonj upazilla of Barisal district and Nalchhiti upazilla of Jhalakathi district. They provided some relief work in these villages, and tried to obtain the real scenerio of disaster caused by Sidr.
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D.Net team distributing relief among affected people in Barisal |
D.Net also took initiatives to install 4 deep tubewells of which 3 in most crisis area at Barguna, and the rest at Bagerhat. Considering damage of the electricity system in coastal area, D.Net will provide harricane lanterns among one thousand of affected people. A long term plan to reconstruct the mostly affected villages is under consideration.
For more details of these phases click the reports below -
For Seprate Reports Please check -
And for summerised report click here.
Published: 28-11-2007 |
