1997

28th May 1997
Cyclone Strategy Praised as a Million Lives Saved in Bangladesh
An ingenious disaster-preparedness strategy supported by Caritas Australia has been praised by Bangladesh's Prime Minister for saving up to one million lives during last week's devastating cyclone in the country's south-east.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed told representatives of non-government organisations (NGOs) that the construction of 1668 cyclone shelters nationally by Caritas Bangladesh and other NGOs had been crucial to saving lives when Cyclone Helen hit the Chittagong region on May 19.

A million people took refuge in the 700 cyclone shelters in the Chittagong region, as the cyclone, bringing winds of up to 230km/h, damaged 600,000 houses in 10 districts of south-east Bangladesh. Millions more Bangladeshis were able to prepare themselves for the onslaught of the cyclone, as warnings were issued across villages and towns 20 hours before the cyclone hit.

The official death toll was 106, a dramatic drop on the casualty figures for cyclones of similar ferocity in past years. A cyclone in April 1991 claimed 140,000 lives, while, in November 1970, around 500,000 died when a cyclone devastated southern Bangladesh.

Caritas Australia's National Director, Mr Tom Story, said the dramatic drop in the cyclone death toll in Bangladesh was an excellent example of how international support for development was making a practical difference to people's lives.

"In the past decade, Bangladesh has been able to improve its preparation for cyclones with the construction of 1668 cyclone shelters and the development of a 33,000-strong team of Red Crescent volunteers to implement a national cyclone warning and preparedness program," Mr Story said.

"Each cyclone shelter can house 1400 people under cover and another 1400 people on the roof during the tidal surges which often follow cyclones. Out of the cyclone season, the shelters prove to be of enormous community benefit, being used as schools, training centres and community centres."
The cyclone shelters are built of reinforced concrete on piers and in the shape of an arrow-head, with the arrow-head pointing towards the Bay of Bengal, the direction from Bangladesh's cyclones almost invariably come.

The development of the arrow-head cyclone shelters during the 1980's by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology provided an enormous boost to the nation's disaster preparedness plans after 30 years of mixed success with the use of earth embankments, wind barriers and shelters made of local brick.

Caritas Bangladesh has built 249 cyclone shelters across southern Bangladesh, the others being built by a number of non-government organisations.
Meanwhile, Caritas Australia has responded to the international appeal for the survivors of Cyclone Helen by allocating A$26,200 (US$20,000) to Caritas Bangladesh's relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The funds, taken from donations to the national Project Compassion appeal, will be used to assist some of the 600,000 families whose houses were damaged by the cyclone. In the first phase of its program, Caritas will assist families with temporary shelter materials, food, water purification and clothing while, in the second phase, it will support the replacement of damaged crops and house reconstruction.

Caritas Bangladesh's Executive Director, Mr Jeffrey Pereira, said his organisation remained ever grateful for the support from Australia and around the world for the development of the people of his nation.

"The work and value of cyclone shelters has been amply demonstrated and greatly appreciated," Mr Pereira said. "The people who took shelter during the cyclone recalled the great difference between April 1991 and May 1997, and the stories they heard from us of how little children gave up their tiffin (lunch), people fasted, parishes held fairs and so generously donated to make these high, tall, strong fortresses an emblem of love of people for people.

"Only God in infinite mercy will reward you for your unlimited support, not just from your surplus but through sacrifice and putting aside your actual needs," Mr Pereira said.

Mr Story said the most pleasing aspect of the successful cyclone preparedness program was that it had been developed by the people of Bangladesh with the help of some well-targeted international support.

"Time and time again, we in Caritas Australia have seen that the best solutions for problems of underdevelopment come from within the affected communities and countries themselves," he said. "So often, it is a matter of a lack of resources rather than a lack of resourcefulness and ingenuity which holds back the development of communities in nations as materially poor as Bangladesh.

"The vast improvement in disaster preparedness is a national triumph for Bangladesh and I am delighted that Australians have been able to contribute in a small way to this through Caritas Australia."

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