A. SITUATION ANALYSIS
Description of the crisis
In June 2022, torrential rain and incessant downpours from upstream regions caused the worst flooding in living
memory in the north-eastern districts of Bangladesh. More than 7.2 million people were impacted, and hundreds of
thousands of households were isolated by flood waters, while some families took shelter in open areas, on higher
ground or in flood shelters. According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) of the People’s
Republic of Bangladesh, an estimated 481,827 people had been taken to shelters in a combined effort by the Army,
Navy, Fire Service, and local authorities.
The flooding washed away infrastructure, farmlands, homes and livelihoods, and displaced hundreds of thousands
of people. More than 150,000 houses, numerous roads and essential infrastructure were washed away. According to
the MoDMR, the estimated loss of the housing sector is USD 176.0 million. The Flash Flood caused damage to 254,251 hectares of croplands and affected 663,534 cattle, 106,000 ponds inundated, and 17,000 metric tons of fish washed away. The total damage in the agriculture and livestock sector is US$ 230.8 million. An estimated 4.2 million people suffered disruption to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services -106,727 water points and 283,355 latrines were damaged. The overall damage and loss in the WASH sector is estimated at USD 55.7 million. Agriculture, livestock rearing, and fisheries are the key income sources of north-eastern population.
Based on the detailed household assessment conducted by BDRCS in December 2022, only 2.3 per cent of assessed
households in Sylhet and Sunamganj district can fully recover their livelihood, while only 7 per cent of assessed
families can reconstruct their damaged houses and 9 per cent of assessed families can rebuild their damaged latrines.
It is evident that a significant portion of the affected population is still unable to meet their priority needs without
external support. Currently, the local markets are fully operational, however, due to poor economic conditions and
limited income opportunities, as well as increased inflation, the most vulnerable flood-affected people are struggling
to meet their essential needs.
Summary of response
Overview of the Operating National Society and ongoing response
In response to the impacts of floods in Bangladesh, BDRCS developed a comprehensive floods response plan to
provide effective integrated assistance to 350,000 flood-affected people. This plan is comprised of both relief and
recovery activities. The total funding asked was BDT 950 million (CHF 10 million). On 26 July 2022, upon request of
BDRCS, the IFRC launched an emergency appeal (EA) of CHF 7.5 million to enable BDRCS to address the emergency
needs and early recovery of the flood-affected people in the north-eastern region of the country. BDRCS mobilized
more than 500 staff and volunteers in this operation
BDRCS’ response, as of this reporting period:
• Over 164,000 people reached with food assistance under flood operation 2022.
• More than 175,000 litres of safe drinking water among 70,285 people and 5,580 jerrycans distributed among the
flood-affected people.
• 303 water points were disinfected, and 39,090 water purification tablets (WPT) were distributed.
• More than 150,000 people were reached through hygiene promotion and 18,400 people were provided hygiene
parcels.
• 100 emergency latrines were constructed in the flood-affected areas in this reporting period.
• Over 67,750 flood-affected people reached with the multipurpose cash grant (MPCG) support in Sylhet,
Sunamganj, Netrokona and Kishoreganj districts through the electronic money transfer services of Bangladesh
Post Office. Among them, 47,750 people were also assisted with eight types of vegetable seeds in those districts.
• More than 4,400 flood-affected households were reached with tarpaulins, among these 1,500 households were
reached with emergency shelter toolkits. Besides that support, 500 households received conditional cash grants
for shelter repair in Netrokona district.
• 10,000 sleeping mats and more than 5,000 buckets have been distributed among the flood-affected people.
• 17,498 people received emergency medical assistance through mobile medical teams and 2,459 people reached
with psychosocial support (PSS).