Rehabilitation of Flood Affected

Appeal Target: US$ 709,286

Heavy rainfall in late July and early August 2007 along with the onset of flooding by Himalayan-fed rivers in Bangladesh resulted in severe inundation and destruction in several districts.  Government reports estimated that more than nine million people were affected in 39 districts of which 400,000 were living in temporary shelters. This severe flooding destroyed houses, roads, farmland and gardens, fishponds, schools and health clinics and isolated communities from essential health services, market centres and schools. Marginal communities living close to the riverbanks were the worst affected.

Regular flooding and river erosion have an adverse long-term impact on the livelihoods of the people residing in the affected communities. Economic and social activities are disrupted as homesteads are damaged, crops and fruit and timber trees are washed away, and associated agricultural jobs which many landless people rely on is lost. Seasonal hunger further adds to the vulnerability of those affected by the floods.

ACT Bangladesh Forum member Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) – LWF/WS plans to provide assistance comprising food security and income generation, water and sanitation, rehabilitation of homes and repair/reconstruction of flood shelters to 1,600 severely affected households in the river-belt  areas of Kurigram District in north-west Bangladesh.

Other ACT Bangladesh Forum members have sent proposals which are currently being processed.  A revision of this appeal will be issued shortly to include assistance planned by other ACT members in Bangladesh.  The forthcoming revision will also show the crisis phase assistance already delivered by ACT members, including activities supported by the ACT Rapid Response Fund.

Project Completion Date:

RDRS  -  30 June 2008 (9 months)

Reporting schedule:

Signed by:

John Nduna
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office