Broken "Bhita" (1 of 2)

Many homes in this part of Bangladesh are built on a raised platform that kind of serves as a foundation. The local word for this is "bhita" - though there is no direct English translation. The idea of a bhita is that it keeps low-level flood waters out of the home.

 

The problem of Cyclone Aila is that the flood waters were so high and so intense, that many of the platforms which homes rested on were destroyed and washed away. Homes that still stand (like the one pictured above) are not stable and could even collapse at any minute - though many residents continue to live in them as they have no where else to go.

 

This also highlights how poverty and disasters like Cyclone Aila are connected. If these villagers had the kind of income that would have allowed them to invest in a higher "bhita" (perhaps one made out of concrete or cement) it is quite possible their homes would have remained unharmed.

 

This photo is a supplement to a video on YouTube. You can see that video here:

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kJEGvY6_QY

 

Photo Credit: Paul Seevers

Done