Four cyclone shelters open in Bagerhat
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SCD) recently handed over four multipurpose community based cyclone shelters to the local communities for use in Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat district.
Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Dr Urs Herren, officially handed over the cyclone shelters at Morelganj on March 14 and 15.
After the cyclonic storm 'Sidr' hit the coastal areas of Bangladesh in 2007, inflicting severe damages to the lives and livelihood of the people, the SCD launched a community based Disaster Risk Reduction Programme which was further reinforced following the devastation caused by cyclone 'Aila' in 2009.
As part of the programme, SDC started constructing 12 cyclone shelters on the lands, donated by the people of the upazila, under a budget of $3.4 million.
Four of them were inaugurated on March 14-15.
Solar panels, rain-water reservation and generator systems have been installed at the shelters to ensure independent functioning during any crisis while the first floor of each shelter is reserved for livestock to protect them in times of disaster.
During the regular period, the cyclone shelters will be used as community assets to hold social events such as weddings and meetings and to generate further income by using the shelters as market place to cover maintenance cost.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments