UN deploys disaster team to Bangladesh

(NEW YORK: 30 July 2004) The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has deployed a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team to support Bangladesh's Government and the UN Disaster Management Team (DMT) as they respond to the flooding crisis. The DMT has also agreed to launch a flash appeal for funds to ameliorate the situation, a move that has been welcomed by the Government.
The situation remains tenuous. While flood waters are slowly receding in the north, they are continuing to rise in Dhaka and the central region. Thus far, over 30 million people have been affected, and close to 2.5 million homes have been partially or fully damaged. Nearly 6 million affected families are in need of immediate relief.

The Government of Bangladesh has welcomed an offer by the World Food Programme (WFP) to conduct an Emergency Operation (EMOP). What are most needed are dry foodstuffs, as well as high protein biscuits for children. Presently, dehydration is rampant, and diarrhea and other water-borne diseases are spreading. For those reasons, UNICEF has given the Government a further 3 million water purification tablets and 2 million packets of oral rehydration salts.

Bangladesh's army, police, and local security forces have been deployed in some districts to help with distribution and ensure safety. Also contributing to the relief efforts are Governments and aid agencies from around the world, which are allocating badly needed funds. Both governmental and non-governmental capacities, however, have been hampered by deteriorating roads.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA NY, 917 367 5126, mobile 917 892 1679; Elena Ponomareva-Piquier, UN Geneva, 022 9172336.