COX'S BAZAR, June 27 (UNB): The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) installed state-of-the-art rain gauges in three landslide-prone areas around Rohingya sites in the district.
UNDP set up those in partnership with UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, the Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) and the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI).
By installing these new rain gauges in the Rohingya camps, the agencies are improving access to real-time information about weather conditions which can rapidly exacerbate landslide risk in the camps.
While the whole of Bangladesh is highly prone to floods, Cox's Bazar is also particularly vulnerable to flashfloods and landslides, primarily during the monsoon season which began in early June and lasts until September, UNHCR says.
UNDP, UNHCR and GSB together with technical experts from NGI, have installed three rain gauges with solar panels and data collection mechanisms.
When the rainfall values of precipitation exceeds a pre-determined risk threshold, the rain gauge alert system sends SMS/text messages to 20 designated emergency response agencies which are located in and around the affected areas.
"By using a tool piloted locally by the Geological Survey of Bangladesh and working together, we want to make sure that the technology is locally appropriate and that the information generated by the gauges is fed back to national institutions for further analysis," said UNDP Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist Cathrine Tranberg Haarsaker.
Landslides are increasingly recognised as a threat to communities in this part of Bangladesh," she added.
"A better understanding of risk factors and triggers is crucial to reduce disaster risk and prevent loss of life," Haarsaker added.
As part of this UNHCR-funded and UNDP-managed project the automatic rain-gauges were installed at Chakmarkul settlement, Kutupalong Camp 16 and Kutupalong Registered Camp.
The three rain gauges were installed along with maintenance to the two pre-existing rain gauges in Teknaf and Cox's Bazar installed by GSB and NGI in the past.
Haarsaker said the climate in Cox's Bazar creates conditions where rainfall is heavily localised.
"This will enable government and humanitarian decision-makers' to take early action and deploy camp-based volunteers, humanitarian response teams and critical equipment," explained Haarsaker.
