With cyclone Asani likely to hit the Bangladeshi coast in a matter of days, it is good to know that this time the government has put preparations in place for us to weather this storm with minimal damages.
As a coastal nation, Bangladesh is prone to witnessing numerous typhoons and cyclones throughout any given year, usually prefaced by warmer-than-usual weather. As the recent bout of heat wave is finally passing, cyclone Asani is anticipated to be the storm of the year, and is expected to hit the Satkhira coast after going through Odisha and West Bengal in India.
These are the times when it is proven that pro-active measures are always the best course of action, especially when talking about natural disaster
A cyclonic system has developed near the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean and has a high chance of intensifying into a deep depression within the next week. However, if by any chance the storm does mutate into something worse, the measures that the administration has taken speak well of our preparedness.
With 7,000 cyclone shelters in place so far, schools, colleges, and other large institutions have also been made ready to house those affected by cyclone Asani. This is a good step forward.
However, almost twice the number of cyclone shelters were in place in tackling Cyclone Amphan two years ago. If Asani really is expected to be the storm of the year, the last thing we would want is to be caught off-guard at the last minute with not enough place for everyone to seek shelter in.
But shelter is only one component of being prepared for natural disasters. In places that the cyclone will inevitably end up impacting, preparations must be made to mobilize funds and food to help those affected.
The government has a responsibility to help the people in their time of need, and when it comes to natural disasters, preparation is always key.
