One third of Patuakhali cyclone shelters need urgent renovation
A large number of people pass days in anxiety for lack of sufficient shelters
This cyclone shelter in Chhotobaishdia union in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali is one of dozens of such centres in the district that have remained virtually useless for years due to lack of renovation.Photo: STAR
A large number of people in coastal district Patuakhali are highly vulnerable to natural disasters, especially during May to November every year, as the cyclone shelters in the district can accommodate only seven lakh of the 17 lakh people. Over 200 chars (coastal islands) in 15 unions of three upazilas in Patuakhali district are most vulnerable to natural disasters like cyclones, floods and tidal surges while all the seven upazilas of the district are more or less affected, especially during serious disasters. After devastating tidal surges accompanied by the cyclone on November 12 in 1970 claimed lives of over one lakh people in Patuakhali district alone, 204 cyclone shelters cum educational institutions were built in the district. But 90 of the shelters later became useless for want of renovation. Of the useless cyclone shelters, 63 are in Galachipa, 16 in Kalapara, eight in Mirzaganj and three in Dashmina upazilas, sources of District Relief and Rehabilitation Office (DRRO) said, adding that several letters were sent to the higher authority to take step for their renovation but in vain. Super cyclones Sidr and Aila that hit the coastal areas on November 15 in 2007 and on May 25 in 2009 respectively claimed many lives in the district, as people did not take shelter during the disasters. After the disasters, the government built 83 cyclone shelters in seven upazilas of the district at a cost of about Tk 100 crore. Now over seven lakh people can take shelter during disasters while the remaining 10 lakh people in the district are still under disaster risk, DRRO sources said. "We pass days amid anxiety of disaster from May to November every year due to lack of sufficient cyclone shelters here," said Abdul Haque, a resident of Arojbagey villager in Dashmina upazila, who lost all 12 members of his family during the tidal surge in 1970. Siddiqur Rahman of Char Montaz in Galachipa upazila said the government should build sufficient cyclone shelters in the district especially in the coastal island areas so that people can save their lives during disaster.
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