Most Sidr victims in Patuakhali yet to get decent shelter
A Sidr victim woman stands in front of their makeshift shelter at Matibhanga village in Chhoto Bighai under Patuakhali Sadar upazila. Photo: STAR
Most of the people who lost their houses during last year's super cyclone Sidr in southern districts of the country are still passing hard days amid problem of dwelling houses.
Many of them are living in low huts as they have no ability to build new houses.
According to Patuakhali district administration, 54,006 families comprising 2.25 lakh people in the district lost their houses due to the Sidr.
Only 11,590 families got houses under the assistance programme taken by different donor agencies and countries. The rest 42,416 families still shelter less in the district.
“Just after the Sidr last year, I got only Tk 5,000 as help from army men to rebuild our house. With the scanty amount, I made a low hut where I am living with my family,” Ansar Mira of Matibhanga village in Sadar upazila told this correspondent on Tuesday.
Many other families who lost their houses due to the Sidr are still passing their days under huts, he added.
“We heard that the government is giving houses for Sidr victims but we are still deprived,” said Atahar Ali of the same village.
“We are passing hard days. During rains, our sorrows know no bounds as rain water easily enters our house,” said his wife Sufia Begum standing beside him.
The Sidr killed 22 people in the village, locals said.
Only Tk 5,000 was given by the government to each family whose house was fully damage while families with partially damaged houses got Tk 2,000 to 3,000 each.
About 5,000 dwelling houses at Charkhali village under Mirzagonj upazila in the district were damaged as Sidr hit the area. Muslim Aid, an international organisation, arranged houses for 2,450 of them.
“Muslim Aid made a house for me at a cost of Tk 90 thousand. But many villagers are yet to get such help,” Kalam Mridha of Charkhali village said.
When contacted Shamsul Haque, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) in Patuakhali said, ''We are trying our best to ensure shelter for every victim. Thirteen donor countries and agencies assured us of building 23,206 houses for Sidr victims in seven upazilas in the district.”
District administration distributed Tk 40.50 crore and 2,262 bundles of CI sheets among Sidr victims to repair their damaged houses but the allotment was far short of demand, said sources at District Relief and Rehabilitation Office.
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