core sector communique

Recovering from the Damage to Livelihoods and Infrastructure caused by Cyclones

 

 

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to recurring natural disasters and cyclones. Cyclone Sidr hit the country in 2007 and caused extensive damage to lives and property of 30 districts in the country, affecting about 9 million people (more than 2 million families). About 1.5 million houses were damaged, the livestock death toll was over 100,000 and crop loss was estimated to be about 1.3 million tons.

The World Bank extended support to the Government of Bangladesh (GOB)through the Emergency 2007 Cyclone Recovery and Restoration project (ECRRP) to facilitate restoration of agriculture and infrastructure in Sidr affected areas, including reconstruction and improvement of multi-purpose shelters and coastal embankments.

Most importantly, the ECRRP is supporting the preparation and initial implementation of the first phase of a fifteen year program for long-term disaster risk reduction. The Bank also reallocated US$ 8.0 million out of the total credit amount of US$ 109 million in June 2009 to finance urgent repairs to coastal embankments damaged by Cyclone Aila in late May 2009.

The ECRRP project will build on the relief and recovery measures initiated by GOB and donor partners. The agriculture recovery component will help farmers prepare for the next season and will strengthen their ability to cope with future disasters. The infrastructure rehabilitation program will generate employment and repair critical infrastructure to help improve disaster preparedness and response. The project is expected to support the building of approximately 50 new and repair of 250 existing multi-purpose shelters and the rehabilitation of over 100 km of embankments in several of the worst affected districts.

Several preparatory activities required for proper project implementation are ongoing. Project implementing units are functional and hiring of various consultancy services, critical for successful implementation of the project, have reached advanced stages. The different implementing agencies of the project have agreed with the Bank to complete a set of time-bound critical actions that are essential to accelerate the project implementation.

ECRRP is a five year project which is solely funded by the World Bank (US$ 109 million together with US$ 2.96 million grant money from the Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction). Ministries of Local Government, Water Resources, Food & Disaster Management, Agriculture and Fisheries & Livestock and Planning are collectively implementing the project.