Several non-governmental organizations have launched a long-term project to reduce the adverse impacts of floods among the flood-affected people of Bangladesh.
The five-year project, funded by Zurich Foundation, was launched jointly by Concern Worldwide, Mercy Corps and Practical Action, on Tuesday at Spectra Convention Centre in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.
The project aims to gather data from a total of 72,000 people in Faridpur, Lalmonirhat, and Gaibandha districts to devise an efficient disaster management and mitigation plan.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman said: “The government has been developing and implementing various measures to better equip the country to deal with floods. Important initiatives include the flood action plan, flood hydrology study, flood management model study, national water management plan, national water policy, flood early warning study, and construction of flood embankments and flood shelters.”
He also said the government has already disbursed Tk300 crore for the construction of around 11,604 shelters for flood-affected people across the country.
Practical Action Country Director Hasin Jahan said one of the major challenges in managing flood-affected people is the lack of coordination between volunteers.
“We are developing an app, which would allow easy access to instructions for volunteers, working alongside flood victims,” she said.
She also said it is important to send instructions that are specifically tailored to different types of farmers working in flood-prone regions.
Dr Shamsul Alam, member of General Economic Division of the Planning Commission, said: “The cost of loss and damage from floods needs to be calculated precisely, as it is vital to make funding plans for the flood-affected.”
Concern Worldwide Country Director AKM Musha and representative of Mercy Corps Bangladesh, Rumana Binte Masud, were also present at the launching ceremony, among others.
