Project for disaster reduction continues in Gaibandha

GAIBANDHA, Oct 29 (BSS): The activities of a project entitled "A Disaster Resilient Future: Mobilizing Communities and Institution for Effective Risk Reduction Initiatives" have been continuing in Gaibandha district since June, 2011. The aim of the project is to involve the stakeholders in the activities, create awareness among the vulnerable community about disasters and help them build up their disaster preparedness to reduce the loss of lives of human beings and animals. SKS Foundation, a local organization, is implementing the project at Fulchhari and Uria Unions of Fulchhari Upazila and Holdia unions of Saghata Upazila of the district with the financial support of, European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection. As part of the project works, SKS Foundation and Islamic Relief Worldwide jointly organized a workshop on how to reduce disasters at the project command areas at the conference room of deputy commissioner (DC) here on October 26. DC M. Shahidul Islam addressed the function as the chief guest and additional deputy commissioner (Gen) M. Kamal Uddin Biswas and additional police super M. Hemayetul Islam were present as the special guests. With Gaibandha poura mayor M. Shamsul Alam in the chair, the workshop was also addressed, among others, by district education officer M. Azahar Ali, district primary education officer Dilruba Begum, district information officer Sabiha Akter Lucky and programme manager of Islamic Relief Worldwide Syed Shahnawaz Ali. DC M. Shahidul Islam said due to geophysical location the country is very vulnerable to innumerable natural disasters like tornado, cyclone, flood, river erosion, drought, cold wave, tidal bores and newly added earthquake. In this context, importance should be given on creating much awareness among the vulnerable communities to reduce the loss of human beings and livestock including other properties during the natural calamities, he also said. Additional deputy commissioner Kamal Uddin Biswas laid emphasis on expediting disaster preparedness programmes among the people and local resource mobilization to attain the cherished goal for disaster risk reduction in the project areas through involving the local government bodies. Additional police super M. Hemayetul Islam in his speech stressed the need for collective efforts of all concerned for successful disaster management to reduce the prevailing risks of the natural disaster effectively. Earlier, project manager Abdus Samad briefed the participants about the overall activities of the project being implemented at Saghata and Fulchhari upazilas of the district and presented the community based risk assessments (CRAs) through for validation. Later, the participants elaborately discussed the CRAs collected from the vulnerable groups in grass root levels through open discussions in the meetings and took initiatives for their proper implementation to reduce disaster risk at the project command areas of the district. More than 50 districts and upazila level officials, public representatives, NGO activists and journalists participated in the workshop.