$375m WB loan to build disaster shelters

The World Bank (WB) will provide US$375 million in loans to build multipurpose disaster shelters and develop related infrastructure in nine coastal districts of Bangladesh.
The WB on Monday signed a $375 million financing agreement with the World Bank at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) in Dhaka.
The aid deal was signed by ERD Senior Secretary Mohammad Mejbahuddin and World Bank Country Director Johannes Zutt.
Under the World Bank-supported Multipurpose Disaster Shelter Project, the government will construct 552 new multipurpose disaster shelters, improve 450 existing ones and build connecting roads and communication networks in the coastal districts.
The districts are Barisal, Bhola, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Feni, Laxmipur, Noakhali, Pirojpur and Patuakhali.
The project will benefit 14 million coastal people living in the frontline of climate change.  
Steel shelter designs will be introduced for the first time in Bangladesh for improved construction quality and durability.
"Over the last decades, Bangladesh successfully created a growing network of cyclone shelters and the community-based early warning system that saved lives and assets during natural disasters," said Mr Mejbahuddin.
The WB in a statement Monday said the shelters are designed such that they would serve as primary schools during the year and provide safe shelter to local community during natural disasters. The shelters will be able to protect people from high wind speeds and storm surges.  
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