Cyclone Sidr raged through Bangladesh in November 2007, killing more than 3,000. U Tun Phyu Aung and Ma Kyaw Thin lost their home, but were saved thanks to a cyclone shelter nearby

Caritas had already built more than 200 cyclone shelters when Sidr struck - saving thousands of people. Now they are building 35 more, and also setting up early warning systems

Tanjibul Hussain Sujon, 14 is a community disaster risk volunteer.

“I was trained in how to prepare better before a disaster by storing dry food.

“There is a group of us who keep in touch by radio. We receive early warning signals when a disaster happens, and organise evacuation.

“We make sure children and elderly people are helped to safety, and also do first aid.”

CAFOD partner, Caritas Bangladesh is building a new house for Ma Kyaw Thin, 55, and her family.

Caritas will re-use materials from her damaged home and ensure the house is designed in keeping with the traditional housing of her community

Reba Katun (left) lost her husband and youngest daughter. She says: “I watched as my husband clung to a tree with my child, but he was dragged under and they were both washed away.”

Reba, 40, who lost her home and all her possessions, received an emergency kit from CAFOD partner Prodipan – containing plastic sheeting, some food, kitchen utensils and candles

CAFOD also supports Dhaka Ahsania Mission which distributed emergency items such as blankets and mosquito nets to more than 2,000 people following the cyclone

“I was fishing on the river when Cyclone Sidr came. I got caught in the storm and it was a struggle to survive.

“After the water receded, I arrived home to find my house was badly damaged”.

Rubal Mullah, 37

Rubal’s wife, Manju, took part in a scheme set up by Caritas Bangladesh, employing local people to repair the village road.

“I managed to earn enough money to buy some tarpaulin sheeting for the roof, and bamboo to repair our house,” she explains.

Caritas Bangladesh helped almost 3,000 families through a cash-for-work scheme

Rubal and Manju’s ten-year-old daughter, Malar, in the family’s damaged home.

Caritas Bangladesh is building a new home for the family.

It will be designed to withstand future storms, tidal waves and floods.

Rubal and Manju’s youngest daughters, Lamia and Sadia, play outside their home.

The new houses will be designed after careful consultation with the families who will live there.

Children have been involved too and, as a result, the houses now include a covered area where children can play

Ali Akbar and his partially-sighted daughter, Muktar, ten. CAFOD works with Action on Development and Disabilities (ADD), a group specifically helping disabled people recover after the cyclone

This tailor, who is severely disabled, was unable to make a living after his sewing machine was damaged in the cyclone.

Action for Development and Disabilities (ADD) gave him 1,500 taka to repair it so he could restart his business.

ADD distributed food, blankets and clothing to more than 4,700 disabled people following the cyclone.

As part of our work preparing for future disasters, CAFOD partners help communities adapt to a changing climate.

Colon Mondul and his family used to earn a living by fish farming, but the change in climate has made the water more salty, so freshwater fish cannot survive.

So, instead, the family has started a crab farming business - thanks to a start-up loan from CAFOD partner Prodipan

The crab business is thriving - making 30,000 taka (about £220) profit in 2007. The family buy young crabs, put them in the mud pit (that used to be their fish pond), then sell them to exporters

CAFOD supports NGO Forum in health & hygiene training, teaching the importance of washing fruit and veg, drinking water from pumps instead of ponds, and using latrines to prevent illness

Photos by

Claire Goudsmit

For more info, see:www.cafod.org.uk/bangladesh