Bangladesh: At the mercy of cyclones

(CNN) -- Bangladesh, low-lying and with isolated villages, is extremely susceptible to the type of conditions Sidr has brought.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department estimated Thursday that Sidr would cause a storm surge of 15 to 20 feet above normal tides for some lower coastal areas.

Before this week's storm struck, the Bangladeshi government was not allowing fishing boats or trawlers in the northern part of its waters to leave shelters "until further notice," the country's Web site reported.

Sidr comes only months after monsoon rains brought misery across much of the country. The United Nations called the August flooding in India, Nepal and Bangladesh "the worst flooding in living memory."

Bangladesh has a long history of being hit by deadly cyclones.

In 1991, a devastating cyclone killed at least 140,000 people, according to the United Nations. And in 1970, Cyclone Bhola struck Bangladesh -- then East Pakistan -- killing 500,000 people.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration considers that storm to be "the greatest tropical system disaster" of the century.

Following Cyclone Bhola in 1970, the country's plight was bought to the attention of Western audiences when former Beatle George Harrison organized a concert for the region, featuring acts such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Ravi Shankar.

Before the storm reached land, officials hoped the country's experience with natural disasters would help people respond to Sidr.

"We hope the number of casualties would be at a minimum," Sinnadurai said. But the "damage to property" cannot be discounted, he said.

Before it hit, humanitarian organization Save the Children said it was also prepared for "an impending emergency" in Bangladesh.

The organization's director there, Kelly Stevenson, noted the area's "very poor population." He said dry food, medicine and potable water would be in high demand after the storm subsides. E-mail to a friend

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