Dhaka Diary (it's a travel log)
I am sending this as requested by one or two people to let you know that I am alive and well, and have not suffered as a result of the terrible cyclone on the weekend.
The situation here is quite strange because apart from a 1 day power cut and a lot of debris in the roads, we didn't experience any effects from the cyclone.
However, just a few hours away there are tens of thousands without water and food or houses and thousands dead.
The Sundarbarn is an area of jungle and mangrove (world's largest mangrove belt) which houses many incredible species such as the the Royal Bengali Tiger was worst hit by the cyclone and inundated by surge which will have devastated the ecosytem but helped to protect the people.
One of most significant losses I think is the food and trade sources that they have lost. In some areas all of the rice and all of the shrimp are gone. Many of the shrimp farms that my organisation have been helping to manage sustainably and according to certain protocols have simply been washed away. And this is supposed to be the easy season (dry and cooler) for the Bangladeshis. Sods Law!
My landlady is from one the worst hit places and she believes that in Bangladesh , only about 10% of the international aid money given to the government and NGOs goes to the people! This seems a but cynical to me but according to Transparency International, Bangladesh is rated as one of the most corrupt countries in the world and they recently wrote a document detailing the amount of corruption in NGOs so maybe there's quite a lot of truth in it.
Apart from the cyclone, life is good - work is great and the social life is interesting. I had my first ever appointment with a tailor today about making my dress for the St Andrew's Ball! Last night, a few drinks in the Nordic Club, Thursday is Oktober Fest in the German Club, and next Thursday is BBQ at the Aussie Club, the American club is right next door and is the cheapest of them all but the British High Commission Club has the best bacon.
by L. Jacobon: 5th December 2007
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