The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE Japanese government has reportedly offered 958 million yen, amounting to 63.13 crore of Taka, for the construction of multipurpose cyclone shelters in the Sidr-affected areas in Bangladesh. The construction of shelters will be managed by the Local Government Engineering Bureau. The amount will be used for the construction of thirty- eight cyclone-shelters in four districts-Pirojpur, Barguna, Bagerhat and Patuakhali.

Grants and aid from development partners have been received by the government over the years to strengthen disaster management. UN agencies and multilateral agencies have also mobilised fund for the construction of cyclone shelters in the country. An unidentified single donor from Saudi Arabia has offered donation amounting to one thousand crore of Taka for building cyclone shelters. Some more donations have come from philanthropists abroad. The onus of proper use of the money is on the Local Government Engineering Department. The manpower and technical inputs needed for construction of cyclone shelters have to be optimally used for proper development of the shelters.

Proper maintenance and use of the cyclone shelters are important if they are to be useful at the hour of need. Bangladesh is vulnerable to natural calamities of different dimensions. Cyclones, floods and droughts recur in this country in different seasons of the year. Damages caused to natural bounties and productive sectors including agriculture, forestry, fisheries and poultry are enormous. The people in affected areas not only lose their assets and shelters but also turn vulnerable to diseases and hunger. In such a context, official agencies, have to opt for pro-people approach for developing facilities like cyclone shelters and associating the people with their management.