Swiss agency hands over 4 cyclone shelters

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has completed construction of four multipurpose cyclone shelters at Morelganj upazila in Bagerhat, said a press statement. Urs Herren, ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh, handed over the shelters to the local communities on March 14 and 15. SDC launched a community-based disaster risk reduction programme after cyclone Sidr hit the coastal areas of Bangladesh in 2007, inflicting huge damage to the lives and livelihood of people. The programme was reinforced following another devastation caused by cyclone Aila in 2009. Under the programme, SDC is constructing 12 cyclone shelters, four of which were inaugurated Monday and Tuesday. The multipurpose cyclone shelters will be used as community assets to hold social events, such as wedding and meeting as well as marketplaces alongside the safe places for the coastal people during disaster. The construction work of the remaining 8 shelters is expected to be completed by March 2012.