WFP and USAID hand over 30 cyclone shelters to Cox's Bazar administration

The World Food Program (WFP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have handed over 30 newly-renovated cyclone shelters to the Cox's Bazar district administration to protect local residents from frequent natural disasters. 

The handover ceremony was held at one such cyclone shelter at Marish Bania under Baharchhara union in Teknaf upazila at around 11am Thursday.

The program was attended by Sheila Grudem, WFP’s senior emergency coordinator in Cox’s Bazar; Randy Ali, USAID deputy mission director; and Srabasti Roy, deputy director of the Local Government in Cox's Bazar, among other officials. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Sheila Grudem said: “People living in the coastal areas of Ukhiya and Teknaf are always at risk of natural disasters like floods and cyclones. We believe these newly-renovated cyclone centres will have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of residents of this region.”

A newly-renovated cyclone shelter at Marish Bania under Baharchhara union of Teknaf upazila Dhaka Tribune“These cyclone shelters will normally function as schools or municipal offices. And in case of a disaster, each of these shelters will protect 800 to 1,000 people against floods, landslides, heavy rains and winds,” said Randy Ali at the ceremony.

Expressing her gratitude to WFP and USAID, Srabasti Roy said: “There is no alternative to cyclone shelters to protect local residents in the event of heavy rainfall and flooding.”

“These cyclone shelters will protect up to 20,000 local residents during natural disasters in the coastal areas of Ukhiya and Teknaf under the district,” she added.