WHAT IS SIDR?
Cyclone Sidr (JTWC designation: 06B, also known as Super Cyclonic Storm Sidr) was the strongest named cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. The fourth named storm of the 2007 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Sidr formed in the central Bay of Bengal, and quickly strengthened to reach peak 1-minute sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mp/h), which would make it a Category-5 equivalent tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.[1] The storm eventually made landfall in Bangladesh on November 15, 2007. The storm caused large-scale evacuations here. 3,447 deaths were blamed on the storm.
The Sidr first hit south-east part of the Sundarbans then moved towards the north-east region of Bangladesh passing through Barguna, Pautuakhali, Jhalokati, Pirojpur, Bagerhat, Barisal, Bhola, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Munshigong, Narayanganj, Dhaka, Comilla, Bramanbaria, Narsingdi, Habigang, Kishoregonj, Maulvi Bazar, Sunamganj and Sylhet.
Save the Children estimated the number of deaths to be between 5,000 and 10,000, while the Red Crescent Society reported on November 18 that the number of deaths could be up to 10,000. International groups pledged US$95 million to repair the damage, which was estimated at $1.7 billion (2007 USD).
Meteorological history:
On November 9, an area of disturbed weather developed southeast of the Andaman Islands, with a weak low-level circulation near the Nicobar Islands. Initially moderate upper-level wind shear inhibited organization, while strong diffluence aloft aided in developing convection. Vertical shear decreased greatly as the circulation became better defined, and a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued on November 11 while located a short distance south of the Andaman Islands. Around the same time, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) designated the system as Depression BOB 09. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) upgraded it to Tropical Cyclone 06B after Dvorak estimates indicated winds of 65 km/h (40 mph). Later that day, it intensified into a deep depression as it moved slowly north-westward.
The IMD upgraded the system to Cyclonic Storm Sidr early on November 12. The system then began to intensify quickly as it moved slowly northwestward, and the IMD upgraded it to a severe cyclonic storm later that day and a very severe cyclonic storm early the next day. On the morning of November 15, the cyclone intensified to reach peak winds of 215 km/h (135 mph) according to the IMD, and a peak of 260 km/h (160 mph) according to the JTWC best track. Sidr officially made landfall around 1700 UTC later that day, with sustained winds of 215 km/h (135 mph). It weakened quickly after landfall and the final advisories were issued early on November 16. The name Sidr was contributed by Oman; it is an Arabic name of a tree belonging to the genus Ziziphus, specifically the Ziziphus spina-christi. There is another saying that it is derived from the Sinhalese Language where "Sidr" means 'hole' or 'eye.
Preparations:
As it intensified to a Category 4-equivalent cyclone on November 15, thousands of emergency officials were put on standby in eastern India and Bangladesh in advance of the storm's arrival. Forecast heights of the storm surge predicted by a numerical model developed by Dr. Hassan Mashriqui (Louisiana State University) was communicated to the emergency response authorities in Bangladesh, prompting a massive evacuations of low-lying coastal areas. A total of 2 million people in Bangladesh evacuated to emergency shelters. The Indian Metrological Department (IMD) also issued a cyclone alert for Orissa and West Bengal on November 14. In Bangladesh, an emergency cabinet meeting decided to withdraw weekly leave for the government officials to join the evacuation process. Over 40,000 Red Cross volunteers were deployed to order residents in the 15 affected provinces into special cyclone and flood shelters. The main ports have been closed.
Impact:
Coastal districts of Bangladesh faced heavy rainfall as an early impact of the cyclone. Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh experienced drizzle and gusty winds. Total damages came close to $450 million.
Tidal waves reaching up to a height of 3 metres (9.8 ft) were reported in the coastal areas of north Chennai in southern state of Tamil Nadu in India, triggering panic among the fishing community.
The damage in Bangladesh was extensive, including tin shacks flattened, houses and schools blown away and enormous tree damage. Some local officials have described the damage as being even worse than that from the 1991 cyclone. The entire cities of Patuakhali, Barguna and Jhalokati District were hit hard by the storm surge of over 5 meters (16 ft). About a quarter of the world heritage site Sunderbans were damaged. Researchers said mangrove forest Sunderban will take at least 40 years to recover itself from this catastrophe. Much of the capital city of Dhaka was also severely affected, as electricity and water service were cut and significant damage was reported there due to winds and flooding. The local agricultural industry was also devastated, as many rice crops - which have a December harvest - were lost.
At least 3,447 deaths have been reported. The hardest-hit area was Barguna, where 423 people were reported to have been killed according to local officials. Patuakhali was also hard-hit, with 385 deaths reported. Most of the deaths confirmed thus far were due to the winds, although 13 of them have been as a result of capsized boats in the Faridpur district of Bangladesh. The head of the Red Crescent in Bangladesh expects the death toll to reach as high as 10,000. Over 3,000 other fishermen were reported missing on over 500 fishing boats.
Effect of cyclone Sidr on the Sundarbans:
Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh late Thursday, ripped through the southwestern coast, brought winds of over 220 km/h (150mph) and a tidal surge of several metres, killing over thousands of people and demolishing houses, crops, vegetables and plants alike along its trail of devastation over an area of thousands of sqkm. The authorities confirmed at least 2,3001 deaths but fear that the final toll could be significantly higher. An estimated one million families are thought to have been affected2. The cyclonic storm of hurricane strength, Sidr, was one of the 10 fiercest cyclones that hit the region of Bangladesh in the 131 years between 1876 and 2007.
Around 95 percent standing crops in eleven coastal districts have been affected badly by the cyclone Sidr3 and the farming of shrimp and cattle were also damaged immensely. The shrimp hatcheries in Satkhira, Khulna and Cox's Bazar were badly affected. It has been predicted that Sidr would take its toll on the livelihood of ultra-poor people, as inflation rate will increase.
The largest mangrove forest of the world, the Sundarbans and its biodiversity including plants and wildlife suffered immense losses. The cyclone Sidr, with a ferocious wind force of over 220 km/h, hit the eastern parts of the forest, especially the Chandpai and Sarankhola range including the Kochikhali, Kotka, Hiron Point, and the Dublarchar, leaving a trail of severe devastation4. It is predicted that much of the wildlife and plants of the Sundarbans might have been washed away by the tidal surge. The uprooted trees and destroyed houses on the edge of the forest are reminiscent of the devastation brought to the forest by the cyclone of 1988. The damage done to the forest by Sidr with its seven feet high tidal surge accompanied with a wind speed of over 220 kmph might be much worse than it was in 1988. According to official records, nine tigers and several hundred deer perished when a six feet high tidal surge accompanied by 160 kmph wind hit the Sundarbans in 1988. Several newspapers published photographs of the corpses of deer, tigers and other wildlife.Many wildlife including, royal bengal tigers, deer, crocodiles, wild boars, monkeys, snakes, birds and many species of plants might have been washed away and perished under the weight of uprooted trees of the world natural heritage site. The Sidr practically ruined the beauty of the Sundarbans and cause immense loss.
In recent times more than 400 tigers and hundreds of deer were spotted in the Sundarbans.
Disaster response:
Cyclone Sidr slammed the highly vulnerable low lying densely populated coastal areas of Bangladesh with heavy rain, winds of up to 120 miles/hr, and a storm surge. Sidr may be the strongest cyclone to hit the country since a cyclone killed over 143,000 Bangladeshis in 1991. Although, the death from Sidr number in the hundreds but damage to homes, crops and livelihoods could be extensive. Under a Cyclone Preparedness Program, volunteers evacuated at least 600,000 Bangladeshis in the path of the storm. Many are housed in 1,800 multipurpose disaster shelters built along the coast. Relief organizations distributed seven-day emergency disaster kits of food, blankets and clothing for evacuated families.
Since 1991, the donor community, including the US and EC, has supported disaster-preparedness to mitigate the impact of tropical storms and improve post-disaster relief and reconstruction. Cyclone walls planted within trees are in place to protect vulnerable areas from storm surges. Disaster shelters on stilts housing refugees plus early warning systems and timely evacuations appear to have greatly reduced the fatalities from Sidr. It did kill 3,447 people, but this was much less than the 140,000 that died in 1991.
National response:
After the storm, 18 Bangladesh Air Force helicopters and five Bangladesh Navy ships were immediately dispatched with food, medicine, and relief supplies for the hardest-hit areas. Bangladesh Red Crescent Society initially asked 400 million Taka (US$5,807,594) to the international community. As part of the Bangladeshi cricket team's tour in New Zealand, a charity Twenty20 match was held with all funds raised going to the victims. In addition, the International Cricket Council donated US$250,000 to the funds at the start of the match. The Ministry of Food and Disaster Management allocated 4,000 metric tonnes of rice, 7,500 tents, 18,000 blankets, and 30 million Taka (US$435,569) in relief grants. About 13,000 housing packages, consisting of iron sheets for roofing and family kits were prepared for immediate distribution. A special 350 million Taka (US$5,081,645) fund for housing was established by November 22, 2007. At that time, 732 medical team were deployed to the affected areas.
International response:
Saudi Arabia also donated US$100 million to the relief effort as the country's largest relief sum ever. The European Commission also released €1.5 million (US$2.4 million) in emergency relief to Bangladesh. The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, has pledged more than US$14.4 million in emergency assistance, including more than US$10 million in food assistance from the U.S. Food for Peace program. The United States Navy also released over 3,500 Marines aboard USS Kearsarge and USS Essex (located in the Gulf of Oman) and USS Tarawa (located in Hawaii) to aid in the recovery efforts. India has provided Bangladesh aid including cash assistance of $10 million, essential items including rice and milk powder worth $40 million. In the aftermath of the 2007 cyclone, India sent an emergency relief package of essential commodities and waived ban on export by sending 500,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh. Mukherjee also unveiled the model of the 2,800 core shelters on February 9, 2009, which India would be constructing soon in the 11 villages affected by this cyclone. Other agencies quickly followed in providing aid. World Vision released volunteers to help house more than 20,000 people left homeless. The Red Cross also brought a significant presence, while assessments of the damage were underway.
The World Food Programme initiated an immediate distribution of 98 metric tonnes of high-energy biscuits following the storm. Further distribution of 384 metric tonnes of biscuits was planned. UNICEF planned to provide 60,000 family kits, 100,000 jerry cans, 92 metric tonnes of baby food, 100,000 blankets, and 60,000 clothing items for children, 50,000 plastic sheets, tube wells and essential medicines. The World Health Organization provided US$77,000 worth of medical supplies to Bangladesh. The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator allocated US$14.7 million from several government agencies. The World Bank also announced that a US$250 million budget fund would be set up for relief efforts.
Post-storm diseases:
People of the cyclone affected area experienced severe health problems such as diseases like diarrhea, which spread due to shortage of drinking water. The landfall of Sidr had followed the devastation caused by consecutive floods earlier in 2007. By January 15, 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 44 people had Jaundice, 3,572 had Diarrhoea, 3,210 had Pneumonia, 7,538 were suffering from a skin disease, 2,309 had eye infections, and 10,349 had Typhoid Fever. To help reduce further spreading of the diseases, the Government of Norway provided the WHO with four water treatment plants to be used in areas affected by Sidr.
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