More than 80 participants from the government, NGOs and UN agencies gathered in Sylhet last week to attend the “Emergency Simulation Exercise (SimEx) on Floods” in Sylhet.
Jointly organized by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the SimEx tested and evaluated the emergency operational capability of Upazila, district and division-level stakeholders in a simulated real-time environment, said a press release issued on Thursday.
“We need proactive measures to protect our communities. WFP has been supporting us through all stages of the disaster risk reduction cycle. Through meaningful collaboration, WFP and MoDMR have been working on preparedness, response, rehabilitation, recovery and anticipatory action,” said State Minister, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Dr Enamur Rahman.
“Through today's exercise, we can identify the gaps in our strategies and ensure effective disaster risk management,” he added.
The SimEx used a division-level response to a severe early-onset monsoon flood event, combined with an annual rainy season-induced flooding scenario impacting all four districts of Sylhet division.
“We all know that preparedness and flood response is a challenge. Preparedness is more efficient than response,” said Domenico Scalpelli, resident representative and country director, WFP.
“While I recognize the achievements of Bangladesh in protecting the people from climate risks, keeping in mind the past year's flood response, we need to strengthen and ensure the necessary preparedness to reduce the scale of disasters,” he added.
As Bangladesh is prone to multiple emergencies throughout the year, the government of Bangladesh recognizes the need for emergency preparedness and developing in-country disaster management capacity.
WFP has been strengthening the capacity of national institutions, partners, and WFP staff by ensuring they have the adequate skills, knowledge, and resources to respond and coordinate with relevant stakeholders during an emergency, save lives, protect livelihoods, and prepare to recover from disasters, reads the press release.
