Current Conditions: Disaster ManagementBangladesh is Highly Vulnerable to Disasters Bangladesh is frequently hit by disasters, particularly cyclones, floods, and drought. Its tropical monsoon climate is influenced by the Himalayan, the Assam, and the Burmese mountain ranges in the north and the northeast and the Bay of Bengal in the south. The strong monsoon rains, coupled with Bangladesh's location in the delta of the world's second largest river basin, make it extremely vulnerable to recurring floods. In addition, the country's approximately 600 kilometers of coastline leave huge tracts of land open to the destructive effects of cyclones and storm surges.
Poor are Hit Hardest In a disaster situation, those living near the poverty line can easily slip below it. The landless and near landless may be forced to sell their limited assets for survival needs. Those who depend upon wage labor for subsistence are forced to compete with those entering the labor market. The labor market, in turn, becomes further depressed by the loss of harvests and alternative sources of employment.
USAID's Response
Cyclone Sidr Update
USAID Bangladesh Fact Sheet #1
USAID Bangladesh Fact Sheet #2
USAID Bangladesh Fact Sheet #3
USAID Bangladesh Fact Sheet #4
USG Bangladesh Program Map
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