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We have to stand beside disaster-hit people

5 || risingbd.com

Published: 15:24, 31 May 2017   Update: 15:18, 26 July 2020
We have to stand beside disaster-hit people

Cyclonic storm 'Mora' hit the coastal areas in the country early Tuesday. Severe gusty wind and tidal surge have devastated the coastal areas. Due to preparedness, precautionary measures and no storm surges, the loss of life was lower than people had feared.

Before the cyclone strikes, hoisting great danger signal number 10 and adopting adequate precautionary measures were very effective. People from coastal and low-lying areas took shelter at nearby cyclone shelter center timely at the initiative of the administration. As a result, it was possible to bring down the loss of life to a lower stage. But it is here to be mentioned that thousands of homes, lots of crops and trees had been damaged due to the cyclone.

Cyclone 'Mora' mostly strikes in Cox's Bazar and Chittagong. But the areas which are mostly damaged are Cox's Bazar Sadar upazila and Tekhnaf, Kutubdia and Moheshkhali. Tin-shed and clay houses were devastated and trees were uprooted in these areas. The cyclone killed seven people in Cox's Bazar, Rangamati and Bandarban after it made landfall and weakened later. Mora flattened and damaged thousands of thatched houses, uprooted trees and caused breaches in embankments flooding many villages in Chittagong region. Several fishermen who were engaged in fishing with trawlers and boats in the sea had gone missing. More than 50 people who were floating in the sea were rescued, according to the last reports on Wednesday.

Natural disaster is nothing new in Bangladesh. Bangladesh falls in the list of the countries which face natural disasters repeatedly. The country falls prey to such disaster almost every year. So the people of the country specially the coastal people survive copying with these natural disasters. Due to preparedness, adequate precautionary measures and no storm surges, the loss of life was lower than people had feared. The loss of life was comparatively low as the local administration shifted the people from risky areas to shelter center timely. Low tidal surge was marked as the cyclone struck during the ebb.

Homes of many people were damaged although it was possible to save lives of many people by shifting them to nearby cyclone shelter center immediately. Very tough time is awaiting them ahead.  Reserved crops of many people were damaged. Besides, many people will have to stay in shelter center until their homes are repaired and rebuilt. The cyclone has also put a blow on the livelihood of coastal people. It will take a long time to overcome the loss.

Now it is very necessary to stand beside the people severely affected by the cyclone 'Mora'. Proper help should be ensured for them. There have already been reports of relief distribution among the cyclone affected people in the upazila and district level. Power supply was largely disrupted due to the cyclone which should be addressed soon.

We will have to adopt more effective way to cope with natural disaster although this time our preparedness was very effective to face the cyclone. As we all know that natural disasters are on the gradual rise due to global warming and climate change. We cannot say it clearly that more devastating disaster will not strike us in near future. That's why we have to take precautionary measures to avert any disaster in the coming days.

risingbd/DHAKA/May 31, 2017/Ali Nowsher/Amirul

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