CCDB Situation Report on Cyclone Amphan
May 22, 2020
From Global Ministries partner, the Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh.
The cyclone ‘Amphan’ made the land depression over Rajshahi region moved slightly northwestward, weakened into a well-marked low first, and then into a low over Rajshahi-Dinajpur region. It is likely to move northwards further and become unimportant.
Squally weather is unlikely over north Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh.
Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been advised to lower signals.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to proceed with caution till evening today.
At least, 18 people were killed when severe cyclone Amphan battered 26 coastal districts from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning. Five of them were killed in Jashore, three in Pirojpur, two in Patuakhali, two in Bhola, three in Satkhira, and one each in Barguna, Jhenidah, and Chattogram districts.
The Government estimates that the damage from Amphan is worth Tk 1,100 crore with some 26 districts hit when the super cyclone wreaked havoc on the coast leaving.
“According to a primary estimation, based on inputs from the Ministries of local government, agriculture, fisheries and livestock, and water resources, the losses add up to Tk 1,100 crore,” said State Minister for Disaster Management.
Three districts that were affected most during the cyclone are Satkhira, Bagerhat, and Patuakhali.
According to primary information, 1.76lakh hectares of crop yield damaged across the country.
“Some 1,100 kilometers of road and 200 bridges and culverts under the local Government have been damaged. The Water Development Board reported that 150 kilometers of embankments were damaged while another 84 dams developed cracks, which will take Taka 200 to 300 crore to repair,” State Minister said.
The estimated losses in shrimp farms in Khulna, Satkhira, Borguna, Potuakhali stands at Tk 325 crore.
Meanwhile, around one crore people in the south-western and north-western regions have been left without electricity as the storm disrupted the power supply system.
Communications have been disrupted in the coastal regions and mobile phone networks are not working in some of the worst-hit areas due to the power outage.
Strong wind and heavy rainfall caused by the Cyclone Amphan on Thursday wreaked havoc on mango orchards in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, incurring huge loss to the farmers and businessmen.
According to the Rajshahi Department of Agricultural Extension(DAE) mango was cultivated on 17,573 hectares of areas with a target of 210,000 tons of mangoes this year. Around 12 to 15 percent mangoes fell from the trees due to the overnight gusty wind which might cause loss around Tk10 crore.
The Ministry has allocated 3,100 metric tons of rice, Tk 5 million in cash, Tk 3.1 million for children’s food, 42,000 packets of dry food, Tk 2.8 million for fodders for livestock to support the people on the 19 coastal belt locations during their stay at the shelters.
Additional information was collected from CCDB working areas in coastal locations. They informed that, most of the standing crops were damaged due to high tide and broken embankments. Homestead gardening and kacha (weak) houses were also damaged. Most of the PSF is not useable, due to saline water are contaminated into the fresh pond, so that, people are facing problems to collect drinking water from other sources. Some families are not able to return their house and cook food, due to the areas are inundated.
CCDB is keeping close contact with Bangladesh Met Department, Department of Disaster Management, related Government Offices, and other INGOs/NGOs. CCDB’s working group has been monitoring the situation, coordinating and supporting emergency and communicating with the resource partners and related area offices in the affected parts of the working locations for cyclone ‘Amphan’, under the guidance of the Executive Director.
Sources: Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Department of Disaster Management, Dhaka Tribune, The Daily Observer, CCDB own sources.