Cyclone Sidr, which struck late on Thursday 15-NOV-07, brought winds of
up to 240km/h (150mph) and a tidal surge of several metres.
It brought down power lines and wiped out vital crops. Some 500,000 homes have been destroyed, and 845,000 households have been affected, according to the British Red Cross. Bangladesh's Red Crescent society says up to 10,000 may have died. Tens of thousands of survivors are now struggling for basic necessities like tents, rice, medicines and drinking water.
[Help the survivors]
DSK Response to Cyclone SIDR
ECHO-DCA/DSK Rehabilitation Project is going on.
ECHO-ADHOC at Bamna & Patharghata under Barguna district.s
Southkhali and Rayenda Unions of Sharankhola,
Bagerhat.
Burirchar and Badarkhali of Borguna Sadar Upazilla
of Borguna District as on April 5, 2008
Component
Target
Achieved
Remarks
Slab
Latrines
900
Set
Manufactured : 824
Latrine Chamber Installed: 832
Full installed : 364
Shall be
closed by First week of April, 2008
Boat
100
At different
stages of construction : 17
At final stage : 25
Full complete : 67
Closing by
second week of April, 2008
Fishing Net
200
179
Closing by
end of April, 2008
Pond
Cleaning
30
34
Shallow TW Repair
20
3
Not
applicable for Sharankhola and also for
Borguna; applied for revision of budget
Deep TW
installation
20
Installed : 15
(Platform Complete :10)
-Do- hence No is less
Status of ECHO project: March 31, 2008
Southkhali and Rayenda Unions of Sharankhola,
Bagerhat.
Burirchar and Badarkhali of Borguna Sadar Upazilla
of Borguna District as on March 31, 2008
Component
Target
Achieved
Remarks
Slab
Latrines
900
Set
Manufactured : 738
Latrine Chamber installed: 789
Full installed : 268
Shall be
closed by First week of April, 2008
Boat
100
At different
stages of construction : 36
Full complete : 64
Closing by
second week of April, 2008
Fishing Net
200
94
Closing by
end of April, 2008
Pond
Cleaning
30
34
Shall, be
complete by end of March, 2008
Shallow TW Repair
20
3
Not
applicable for Sharankhola and also for
Borguna; applied for revision of budget
Deep TW
installation
20
14
-Do- hence No is less
Status of ECHO project: March 25, 2008
Southkhali and Rayenda Unions of Sharankhola,
Bagerhat and
Burirchar and Badarkhali of Borguna Sadar Upazilla
of Borguna District
Component
Target
Achieved
Remarks
Slab
Latrines
900
Set
Manufactured : 623
Latrine Chamber installed: 530
Full installed : 109
Shall be
closed by First week of April, 2008
Boat
100
At different
stages of construction : 79
Full complete : 55
Extra
number because of communities choice for
smaller size of Boats; Closing by second
week of April, 2008
Fishing Net
200
79
Closing by
end of April, 2008
Pond
Cleaning
30
29
Shall, be
complete by end of March, 2008
Shallow TW Repair
20
3
Not
applicable for Sharankhola and also for
Borguna; applied for revision of budget
Deep TW
installation
20
10
-Do- hence No is less
Status of ECHO project: March 15, 2008
Status of ECHO
project accomplishments as on March 15, 2008
Component
Target
Achieved
Remarks
Boat
100
34
Rest
of Boat are at different stage of
making
Fishing
Net
100
28
Shall
be completed by end of March , 2008
DTW
20
5
Ten
shall be installed in Borguna and will
be accomplished by third week of
March, 2008. In Sharankhola it is
difficult to install DTW because of
soil conditions.
Pond
Clean
30
25
Almost
covered shall be finished by third
week of March, 2008.
Slab
Latrine
900
135
Work
is progressing. Additional mason has
joined to get an accelerated rate.
Relief Updates: November 19, 2008
EU Ambassador visit to ECHO-DCA/DSK Rehabilitation
Project
The honorable Ambassador Mr. Stefan Frowein,
European Union (EU) of Bangladesh visited ECHO
funded rehabilitation project (Supported by Dan
Church Aid-DCA and implemented by DSK) at SIDR
affected village Manikhali under Borguna district
on 18th November, 2008. He was accompanied by Mr.
David Hill, Head of Office, ECHO, Bangladesh where
Md. Asrafuzzaman, Upzila Executive Officer (Borguna),
Ms. Hasina Enam, DCA Bangladesh representative and
Dr. Dibalok Singha, Executive Director, DSK were
also present.
“Lifestyle of poor and hardcore
poor women would be changed if they are united,
aware and participate in the different disaster
managing, development activities” said honorable
Ambassador of EU.
Under the project grant 2000 families are getting
seeds, fertilizer, power tiller, water pump,
agriculture tools, cow, goat, fishing net and
fishing boat. Before the grant 2000 families were
received materials for housing. Ambassador was
also attended a community based poor and hardcore
poor women group meeting where the women groups
are trying to increase their income level by
participating in the different income generating
activities. Ambassador appreciated SIDR affected
women groups initiatives. He said women
participation in the income generating activities
of SIDR will change their lifestyle soon and in
future they are capacitated to survive themselves
from any kind of natural disaster.
Honorable Ambassador was cordially
received by DSK Executive Director at
project area
A community member
was describing their activities to the
visiting guests
Honorable Ambassador and his
accompanied guests were shown the
activities by the community based
women group member.
Honorable Ambassador
gave his speech to the community
people.
Relief Updates: March 10, 2008
ECHO visit to ECHO-DCA/DSK Rehabilitation Project
Mr. Abdul Awal, ECHO, Dhaka, paid a monitoring
visit on March 10, 2008, to ECHO-DCA/DSK
Rehabilitation Project in Sharankhola sub-district
of Bagerhat district. (Contract No ED: ECHO/BGD/BUD/2007/03010
start date December 15, 2007 closing June 14,
2008). Ms. Hasina Inam, Funding Officer, DCA and
Dr. Dibalok Singha, Executive Director, DSK, were
also present during the visit.
Mr. Awal,
ECHO, Dhaka,handing over a Boat fastening
Rope symbolizing Boat & Net to a Six-member
beneficiary group.
During his visit Mr. Awal attended a meeting
held with “Net-recipient” groups of fishermen
community at Sonatola of Southkhali Union (just
at the door step of mangrove forest SUNDARBAN).
Fishermen cooperative members did described the
situation of their village before and after
cyclone Sidr and their perceived priorities for
rehabilitation of their livelihoods. During the
presentation they use participatory tools to
express their views. They expressed that they
have negotiated with small boat owners living in
the community to accommodate at least three
members into that boat and divided the price of
the boat in four equal shares. In that way they
form a Fishermen cooperative comprised of 5-6
groups consisted of six members in each group.
This group will go for fishing in the nearby
BHOLA River and try to make their living.
Interesting point is apart from “Fishing Net”
supported by the project grant, members of the
group also came forward with their own share of
equity in the form of boat. They also have
decided to use savings instrument considering
future need for repair and maintenance and to
further reinforce the fishermen cooperative.
A Boat allowed to dry after final coat
of paint on it, before its test run in the
river.
A Female member of the Fishing
Community working to complete partially
woven Fishing net collected from market.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also
developed with support from DSK and participating
members agreed to accept that “Net” supplied by
the project and Boat purchased by them becomes a
collective property. All members will have equal
share. It is forbidden to sell or transfer of this
property to anybody else. If a member leaves the
cooperative on his own then on the basis of
consultation another member from poor “Fishermen
village” would be incorporated.
At the site, there were some partially woven
nets under the process of completion where both
male and female net weavers were engaged in the
process.
Mr. Awal, ECHO,Dhaka, during his
Monitoring visit on March, 10, 2008, rode
on Boats of the ECHO-DCA-DSK Project with
the Beneficiary group.
Mr. Awal, ECHO, Dhaka, on the boat
with the Fishermen beneficiary group.
In the village Bokultola of Southkhali union
he visited the production site of Sanitary Latrine
and met Women cooperative groups. He personally
went to see a newly constructed pit latrine. It
was explained by the group that the group went to
local meson to negotiate price of construction of
rings and slabs, they themselves went to negotiate
price of supplies for the construction and time
limit to accomplish the installation of pit
latrines. Besides they did also negotiated price
of physical installation of latrine chamber with
the labor from the community. Total cost of
latrine pit construction and installation was
clearly reflected in brown poster paper by the
community members. He was satisfied with the
quality of construction of rings and slabs and
cost incurred to construct the above.
On his way back, Mr. Awal visited the “Fishermen
Cooperative” in Village Kodomtola of
Rayenda Union where there were boats ready for
test run and nets at the final stage of
completion. After the monitoring session with
the beneficiaries of fishermen cooperative, Mr.
Awal inaugurated the test run of few boats in
the river “Boleshwar” and himself rode on a boat
with net accompanied by the owner group of the
boat and net. Same rules and procedures also
shall apply for these fishermen cooperatives.
Relief Updates: February 16, 2008
ECHO visit to DCA/DSK SIDR rehabilitation project
On February 16, 2008, Mr. Esko Kentryschynskyj , ECHO Head of Unit for Asia, Central and Latin
America, Ms. Agnes LE THIEC, Desk Officer
, Brussels and Mr. David Hill, Head of
Office, ECHO, Dhaka paid a short visit to
Sharankhola, Bagerhat.
A fishing net
is handed over by
Mr. Esko Kentryschynskyj ECHO Head of Unit for Asia,
Central and Latin America to a six member
group of fihermen Co-operative
A
slot from this high level visit was given to the
ECHO funded Post-SIDR Rehabilitation Program for
livelihood restoration implemented by DSK under
co-operation from DCA. Among others Dr. Dibalok
Singha, Executive Director of DSK was present ECHO
delegates along with the DCA/DSK representatives
visited one of the locations of Fishermen
community under ECHO-DCA/DSK Programme at Uttar
Kadamtola. At the site the visiting delegates were
shown how the participatory approach was used in
the implementation process through a demonstration
made by fishermen cooperative. Delegates found
contracted carpenter and his team, busy in
constructing boats and Mr. Esko Kentryschynskyj
handed over fishing net to a six member fishermen
group.
Relief Updates: February 15, 2008
DCA visit to SIDR area
During February 15, 2008 DCA Regional Relief
Officer Mr. Sudhanshu S. Singh Bangladesh
Funding Officer Ms. Hasina Inam visited
the location of ECHO-DCA/DSK Post-SIDR
Rehabilitation Project. Among others DSK Executive
Director Dr. Dibalok Singha was present.
During this period they attended the Focus Group
Discussions held within the selected Fishermen
community at the village Uttar Kadamtola of
Rayenda union and women beneficiary groups at the
village Purba Bokultola of Southkhali union under
Bagerhat district. They also held separate
meetings with local Union Parishad Chairman and
Members.
Boat under
construction at Kadamtola Fishing community area
Mr.
Asif Hossain Tony made a presentation on project
progress at project office which is situated at
Tafalbari bazar of Southkhali union in Sharonkhola
of Bagerhat district.
Mr. Erik Johnson, Relief Officer of DCA
visited SIDR effected areason January 5-8, 2008.
He went to Sharankhola and Borguna where food
relief packets were distributed on January10 and
11, 2008 (Borguna) and next food relief were to be
distributed on January 14,2008 in Sharankhola.
He witnessed installation of
TWs at Sharankhola , All the twelve hand
TWs were tested for Arsenic and was found under
permissible limit. Besides, degree of salinity
was also in most of the cases acceptable. Target
households shall be using water from these TWs
for domestic purposes. He also had
talk with households at Rayenda of Sharankhola
where food packets were distributed earlier. He
had a threadbare discussion with local staff of
DSK in relation to ongoing ECHO supported
project that has formally started on December
15, 2007 and shall come to a closure on June 14,
2008. He was also able to visit "Burir
Char union" of Borguna sub district
where fishing community was severely affected
and devastated because of cyclone SIDR. Mr.
Ranajit Das Senior Project Coordinator of
DSK was present during this visit.
Relief Updates: December 27, 2007
Ms Hasina Inam from DCA, visited Sharankhola and Borguna during December 26 to 28, 2007. She was able to
meet local villagers at Southkhali and was able to transmit future DCA plan of Relief
and Rehabilitation targeting cyclone victims. She
had a discussion with Southkhali Union Chairman
and who assured all possible support in relation
to DCA relief project.
She also had the opportunity
to meet Sharankhola Sub District Chief Executive
Officer where she described DCA/DSK joint
relief project that targets to reach affected
households with food relief and Livelihood
restoration effort through the provision of
fishing boats and nets, improving water supply
and sanitation facilities and cleaning of
polluted ponds. Later, she also visited M
Baliatoli union of Borguna sub district and was
able to meet local partner organization "UDDAM"
and went to visit the severely affected sites of
M. Baliatoli union.
Later, a short meeting was held with sub
District officer who was happy to know about the
DSK/DCA relief effort and expressed his intention to
extend all out support for the successful
implementation of the project. Dr.Dibalok Singha
Executive Director of DSK was also present during
the visit.
Installation of
Tubewell in SIDR area
Relief Updates: December 04, 2007
Relief
Distribution at Morelganj, Executive
Director of DSK was present
Food relief was distributed at Morelganj sub district under Bagerhat district on December 3,
2007. In total, two hundred eighty three packets
were distributed as part of Dan Church Aid support.
Local union parishad Chairman, Sub District
Fisheries Officer, civil society representatives
were present. Dr. Singha (blue shirt in the
picture), ED of DSK was also present during food
packet distribution.
DSK Director Program Dr. M
Quader distributing food relief
Relief distribution at Sharankhola
Relief Team site
Food Relief line at sub District
Headoffice
Line for Food relief
Relief Updates: November 26, 2007
Soon after Cyclone SIDR, DSK decided to start its emergency relief activities in Bagerhat district.
A team was deployed immediately on November 18, 2007 to assess the situation. The team visited Mongla, Chitalmari and Sharankhola sub districts of Bagerhat district.
In Sharankohola sub district affected unions are four and severely affected union is Southkhali and effected villages are Batagi, Chaltabunia, Bogir, Gabtola, Terabeka, Lebutola etc.
Total Death: 550 might rise further
severely affected: 20,000
Moderately affected: 5000
Partial effected: 5000.
(On November19, 2007)
Road and Electricity connection was fully snapped and electricity supply could not be restored till date.
Later DSK on the basis of assessment decided to start medical relief at Sharaonkhola. On November 19, 2007 DSK decided to deploy two medical teams to Sharankhola sub district under Bagerhat district.
Now DSK medical team with support from Government and Bangladesh Military doctors supporting cyclone victims since November 20, 2007. This team is based in Southkhali and Rayanda unions of Sharankhola sub district. On an average daily about 350 patients has visited DSK medical team since the beginning of the activity.
DSK is being supported in its relief activity by DanChurch Aid. About 1900 households (average family size is 5.5) shall be reached with Food packet covering the needs of target families for two weeks in Chitalmari, Morolganj and Sharankhola sub districts by this project.
Food packet contains following components:
Rice 30 kg
Lentil 4 kg
Edible Oil 2 liters
Potatoes 12 kg
15 pcs wax candles
1 dozen match box
1 blanket
soap 1 piece.
Besides water supply services also shall be restored in most effected villages of Southkhali union of Sharanklhola sub district under Bagerhat district of Bangladesh.
Cyclone affected Rayenda union of Sharankhola sub district was visited by DanChurch AID Regional Relief Officer Mr. Sudhansu Singh and Bangladesh program officer Ms Hasina Inam on November 24, 2007.
Apart DSK has tried to fix the some non functioning shallow hand pumps in Rayenda union of Shorankhala sub district. Which has helped the local households immensely because of the dearth of sweet water in those areas.
DSK is trying its level best to raise further funds to support cyclone SIDR victims
Mukil a
class five student of Rayanda Bazar Madrasha. She lost her Father and
Grand father in the cyclone. She has two sisters and one brother.
Her mother is desperately trying to collect relief.
Babu
( 5 yrs) has been living in Rayanda Bazar . His father died 4 years
back . His mother Alya (30yr.s) died in the cyclone on 15 Nov, 2007.
Babu has one younger brother and one sister . They are now looked after
by one of his relatives. They lost their house and properties.
Rahima
( 24 yrs) of Rayanda Bazar who lost her husband Dulu (30)
house/properties and all belongings. Her house was located where
she is now standing in the photograph. She received only 3 Kg
rice till 25 November 2007. She could not move as she has children 2
years and 4 years of age.
Current Event-01 
Some 500,000 homes have been destroyed, and 845,000 households have been affected, according to the British Red Cross. 
DSK Response to Cyclone SIDR
Funded by : 
Status of ECHO project:
June 20, 2009 
Completed
Completed
Soon after Cyclone SIDR, DSK decided to start its emergency relief activities in Bagerhat district.
Photo Flash:
