Remnants of Disaster: A Photo Tour

We had to take multiple ferries, rickshaws and motorcycles to reach cyclone-struck areas with fellow Catholic Relief Services and Caritas staff on November 28. The photographs below show Super Cyclone Sidr's widespread devastation: wind-toppled trees, shops, homes and electric wires inland, and water-flattened communities along the coast.

At the shores of the coastal villages, where a tidal surge rushed more than half a mile inland, houses, schools and boats have been ripped from their frames and pulled out to sea, left as battered bits along the sand. Most of the 3,300 deaths from the cyclone took place in these coastal communities.

While visiting the coastal village of Battorgata, about five hours south of Barisal city, I noticed a landscape spotted with what looked like clotheslines of sheets hanging to dry. On closer inspection, I realized these were in fact what people are using as makeshift homes. The tidal surge took almost everything these people need to survive and care for their families. We spent the day talking with people struggling to figure out what to do next. Photos by Debasish Shom for CRS

Caroline Brennan is South Asia regional information officer for Catholic Relief Services. She is based in New Delhi, India.