As an immediate step, Habitat for Humanity International – Bangladesh (HFHI-B) completed an initial assessment of the situation. The assessment team visited the most affected four districts - Bagerhat, Jessore, Khulna and Satkhira and collected information through direct observation, discussion with affected community members, held meetings with local government, other stakeholders and NGOs, and took photographs of the affected areas.During the assessment, a need for short and long term shelter assistance has been identified for the affected communities. It is suggested that shelter materials/kit, including CI sheet, bamboo poles, CI wire, ropes, nails, tools and so on, could be provided for building temporary shelters.
Recommendations have been made that these materials will then be reused during the rehabilitation phase involving construction of disaster resilient transitional shelters.HFHI-B is willing to concentrate its disaster recovery efforts in Shaymnagar and Ashashuni Upazila of Satkhira District. In these areas, a total of 105,767 houses were fully damaged and 50,631 houses were partially damaged. These two upazilas alone make up 46% of the national damage figure. The population is extremely vulnerable as many depend on fishing as a livelihood.
HFHI-B has an active satellite or field office in Satkhira and is working closely with partners on the ground to develop a coordinated response among the cyclone Aila affected communities. It is envisaged that HFHI-B will commence a rehabilitation project in Satkhira, once emergency relief efforts have ceased.
HFHI-B has successfully completed its Cyclone Sidr Rehabilitation Project (CSRP) in Patuakhali and Barisal districts this year. Under the project it constructed 480 transitional shelters and 480 sturdy sanitary latrines for the families. HFHI-B has been Building Homes and Changing Lives in Bangladesh since 1999. Over 2200 homes have been built for families in Bangladesh who now have a safe, decent and secure place to live.
To donate or to know more on HFHI-B’s Cyclone Aila response please write
Visit the following link to learn more on Sidr response http://www.habitat.org/ap/special_report_2009.aspx
