Bangladesh Seeks $2.2 Billion in Cyclone Relief

The most deadly hurricane of 2007, Cyclone Sidr, killed 3,400 people in Bangladesh – and while many thousands were spared because of pre-storm preparations, homes, farms and infrastructure in the way and wake of the Nov. 15 storm were devastated, and 8.7 million people affected.

Now there's a dollar figure on the ongoing cost of rebuilding and preparing for the next disaster in the populous flood-prone nation: $2.21 billion.

That's how much Bangladesh is seeking from donors, according to Chinese state-run media.

While no single storm or flood can be attributed to global warming, scientists have warned that disasters of this kind will only become more frequent and severe, especially in places like Bangladesh, where natural disasters are already commonplace. Some U.S. national security experts have also warned that Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to political unrest, if natural disasters prompt mass migrations into neighboring nations.

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