Almost one year after Cyclone Sidr ravaged Bangladesh, more than one million people are still struggling without proper shelter and are at greater risk of disease, the international aid agency Oxfam said.

Cyclone Sidr ravaged Bangladesh's southern and southwestern areas on Nov. 15 last year, killing at least 3,000 people and leaving millions homeless.

Oxfam said Thursday in a press release that 276,000 families have received no construction help and are living in unsafe shelters.

"Communities still need urgent help -- both to recover from the impact of Sidr, and to be able to prepare for future possible storms, floods or cyclones," said Heather Blackwell, Oxfam Country Director to Bangladesh, in the release.

Oxfam called for greater political and financial efforts to resolve the shelter problem.

Low-lying Bangladesh, one of the world's most densely populated and poorest countries, suffers from many climate-related problems every year, including floods, cyclones and tornadoes. Their frequency and ferocity is increasing, making some of Bangladesh's poorest rural communities even more vulnerable and reducing their ability to grow crops, have access to clean water and housing, said the aid agency.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2008)