Two years after Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh hit the southern coastal districts of Bangladesh on November 15, 2007, many of the survivors are still homeless and at severe risk from further disasters. Thirty districts were affected, with more than 3,400 deaths. Damage to property, livestock and crops was estimated at US$1.7 billion, with half of that in the housing sector. Despite aid efforts, victims still complain of a lack of assistance to rebuild their homes, while officials say more cyclone shelters are needed to protect communities from future storms. Because of the country’s low-lying deltaic topography, the southern coastal areas are extremely vulnerable to floods, high tides and cyclonic storm surges.
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), which maintains embankments, about 46 per cent or 2,341km of the 5,107km of flood embankments protecting the southern regions were partially or completely destroyed by Sidr. Repair work to the embankments is yet to begin properly, with a lack of funding cited as the primary reason.