The situation
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the depression formed in the Bay of Bengal has turned into cyclonic storm Mahasen on 12 May 2013.
On 15 May 18:00hr, the cyclonic storm has moved over west central Bay and adjoining east central Bay moved slightly north-northeastwards and positioned over west central Bay and adjoining north Bay centred about 700 kms southwest of Chittagong port, 640 kms southwest of Cox’s Bazar port and 575 kms south southwest of Mongla port (near lat 17.50 n and long 87.70 e). Over a million people were evacuated in preparation for the storm.
During the morning of 16 May, the cyclonic storm made landfall in Patuakhali district in southern Bangladesh and weakened as it advanced and a predicted storm surge was avoided due to low tide. The death toll has increased to 13 people while more than 1.2 million people have been affected. Some 95,000 houses, mostly thatched huts belonging to populations along the coastal area, have been damaged. Noakhali district in Chittagong has documented at least 15,000 mud-built houses were destroyed by the cyclonic storm. However some people who took refuge at the safer shelters have returned to their homes. The airports and ports have been reopened.
Based on the initial information received on 17 May through the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) team, the BDRCS and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) joint team on the ground, BDRCS units and German Red Cross Hatiya project team, it was recorded that the districts of Bhola, Patuakhali and Barguna have significant damages compared to other places affected by the cyclonic storm Mahasen. An advance team was sent to Noakhali, while the team in Chittagong was called back to Dhaka. Additional teams are expected to be deployed to Patuakhali, Barguna and Bhola to reinforce the potential response.
The GoB has sanctioned resources of food and cash at the field level, amounting to BDT 12 million (approximately CHF 146,323) and 3,501 MT of rice for the cyclonic affected districts. With the Cabinet’s approval, the District Disaster Management Committees (DDMCs) have been advised to treat all public buildings as safer shelters, including some private buildings such as hotels. Around 100 water treatment plants are ready to be mobilised to the potential affected areas. The Armed Forces, under the Prime Minister’s Office order, is establishing a coordination and information hub to coordinate the Air force for food distribution.
The Inter-Service Public Relation Directorate has informed that 22 ships of the Bangladesh Navy as well as four airplanes and 17 helicopters of the Air Force have been prepared for conducting post-disaster rescue operations and distributing relief materials. The GoB recognized that some island communities may pose as a concern for immediate response operation as they are difficult to reach.
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and coast guard are on standby for any response intervention.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,327 medical teams have been formed for emergency response in the 13 coastal districts.