Bangladesh cyclone
Nearly 9 million people were affected by Cyclone Sidr which battered coastal areas of Bangladesh on 15 November, 2007.
- Hundreds of thousands of homes destroyed
- Massive loss and damage to crops
- Tens of thousands of people struggling to re-establish their livelihoods
Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh on 15 November with winds and waters causing pockets of complete destruction and widespread damage.
Six months on
15 May marked the six month anniversary of Cyclone Sidr. Find out how some of those affected by the cyclone are rebuilding their lives:
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Oxfam's emergency response to Cyclone Sidr is supported in part by the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission (ECHO).
A loss of life and livelihoods
More than 8.9 million people from two million families in 30 districts have been affected by the cyclone, more than half of them children. Almost a million and a half houses have been damaged. Some 3,363 people lost their lives, with another 871 reported missing.
The loss of life is monumentally lower than in previous disasters, thanks to evacuation measures and disaster preparedness efforts. 3.2 million people were evacuated and it is reported that two million people were in shelters when the cyclone hit. This is, indeed, a silver lining, when compared with the hardships to come. The livelihoods of the people of coastal Bangladesh have been reduced to near nothing.
The cyclone killed over a million livestock, destroyed shrimp enclosures (shrimp farming is one of the primary livelihoods of the area), and damaged two million acres of crops.
The substantial loss and damage to crops – estimated at between 50-95 per cent in coastal areas – will have immediate and long-term effects on the country.
Oxfam fears the combined impact of these two disasters on one of the world’s poorest countries could be massive.
Oxfam's response
Oxfam launched relief and recovery efforts in the worst affected southern districts of Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Barguna, and Patuakhali. We are providing livelihoods, shelter and public health support to nearly 40,000 households where our focus has been on ensuring that the basic needs of the most vulnerable people are met.
Through our cash-for-work programme, we are employing 25,000 people in rebuilding their communities. Work includes cleaning ponds, canals and roads, as well as building plinths for homes, latrines and community places. These programmes not only provide much needed money for the affected families, but also help ensure a cash flow for the communities who have lost livelihoods to the cyclone.
Six months on: Stitching life back together
With our local partner organisations, we are providing temporary housing, including CGI sheets, to 9,500 households. Among them, 1,540 of the most needy households are receiving timber support to construct their homes before the start of the rainy season. We have also recruited hundreds of carpenters and given them the necessary tools and training to help those without any means of re-building their homes. Oxfam continues to lobby the government, and other aid organisations, to come up with a comprehensive plan for the massive but unmet shelter needs, especially for the landless.
Six months on: Shelter after the storm
Most members of the affected communities are dependent on fishing and farming for their livelihoods. We are distributing boats, nets and vegetable seeds in four districts to help people rebuild their livelihoods. After various levels of discussions with the communities, we are also providing cows, goats and cash grants for small businesses to help provide alternative incomes, especially for the women.
Because the people in the affected areas lack basic hygiene and sanitation resources, Oxfam has launched an extensive awareness building campaign, offering information on health risks and instructions on good health, sanitation and hygiene practices. We are distributing water purification kits as well as chulli filters to ensure safe drinking water for the households. Because the level of arsenic is much higher than accepted levels, we are installing new deep tube wells and repairing the old ones. We are also building thousands of save and hygienic latrines. We have developed a contingency plan and acquired contingency stock in case of an outbreak of water-borne dieseases.
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With your support we can continue to help – donate now to Oxfam's Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal.
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Oxfam has been providing support to help people rebuild their livelihoods
