Tk 80b disaster management plan taken: Food Minister
Friday, 11 September 2009
The government has undertaken a long-term programme involving about Tk 80 billion (8,000 crore) for effective disaster management and reducing risks and losses.
Food and Disaster Management Minister M Abdur Razzak disclosed this as the chief guest at a national workshop on "Community Voice for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction" organised by Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Centre (BDPC) at BRAC Inn Centre in the city Thursday, reports BSS.
Chaired by BDPC Director Mohammad Saidur Rahman, the workshop was addressed, among others, by Swiss Ambassador in Bangladesh Urs Herren as the special guest, BDPC Director Dilruba Haider and Bireshwar Bala, a community representative from Mongla.
There are mid-term plans to rehabilitate people and address the problems faced by the people in the cyclone affected areas and coastal belts, the food minister said.
Mentioning that fund constraint is a major obstacle to implement such a large programme, the minister urged the international donor community to extend their supports in this connection.
"We don't have sufficient funds to address all the problems that the people are facing due to climate change," he said adding the impact of climate change due to global warming has started to have its adverse effects on Bangladesh and international community has to come forward to help it overcome such a situation.
The donor community provides funds for addressing natural disasters, he said urging the international community for allocating 30 per cent to 40 per cent of climate funds for addressing disasters, as certain amount of money has to go to the affected people who are vulnerable.
As apex ministry, Ministry for Disaster Management is trying to coordinate the disaster management activities, he said adding the damage and destruction wrought by Aila and Sidr were so devastating that it was not possible for the government alone to address it.
Aila's intensity was not so high, but such higher tidal surges washed away houses and submerged many houses, especially kutcha houses making a large number of people homeless.
"Still many people pass nights on embankments and are suffering a lot," the minister said adding that the government has a comprehensive plan to provide food and other supports for free for the people in Aila affected areas for next four months so that people do not starve.
The government would also arrange employment for the hardcore poor in the areas.
The Swiss ambassador said Bangladesh is pioneer in disaster management but it needs to raise the capacity of local government bodies provided with better training so that risks and losses of lives, crops and assets could be reduced.
He laid emphasis on the need for ensuring participation of local people by involving them in planning disaster preparedness and management. Besides, coordination between the government bodies, NGOs, local communities and media should be established for effective management of disaster and its preparedness, he said.
At the function, representatives from different communities at the affected areas gave their opinions and shared their experiences with policy level people including the minister, development partner representatives and media people.
Working in three groups -- Sidr, Aila, Flood -- they highlighted the problems they face due to natural calamities, and the drawbacks in government initiatives in preparedness and management of disaster.
Food and Disaster Management Minister M Abdur Razzak disclosed this as the chief guest at a national workshop on "Community Voice for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction" organised by Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Centre (BDPC) at BRAC Inn Centre in the city Thursday, reports BSS.
Chaired by BDPC Director Mohammad Saidur Rahman, the workshop was addressed, among others, by Swiss Ambassador in Bangladesh Urs Herren as the special guest, BDPC Director Dilruba Haider and Bireshwar Bala, a community representative from Mongla.
There are mid-term plans to rehabilitate people and address the problems faced by the people in the cyclone affected areas and coastal belts, the food minister said.
Mentioning that fund constraint is a major obstacle to implement such a large programme, the minister urged the international donor community to extend their supports in this connection.
"We don't have sufficient funds to address all the problems that the people are facing due to climate change," he said adding the impact of climate change due to global warming has started to have its adverse effects on Bangladesh and international community has to come forward to help it overcome such a situation.
The donor community provides funds for addressing natural disasters, he said urging the international community for allocating 30 per cent to 40 per cent of climate funds for addressing disasters, as certain amount of money has to go to the affected people who are vulnerable.
As apex ministry, Ministry for Disaster Management is trying to coordinate the disaster management activities, he said adding the damage and destruction wrought by Aila and Sidr were so devastating that it was not possible for the government alone to address it.
Aila's intensity was not so high, but such higher tidal surges washed away houses and submerged many houses, especially kutcha houses making a large number of people homeless.
"Still many people pass nights on embankments and are suffering a lot," the minister said adding that the government has a comprehensive plan to provide food and other supports for free for the people in Aila affected areas for next four months so that people do not starve.
The government would also arrange employment for the hardcore poor in the areas.
The Swiss ambassador said Bangladesh is pioneer in disaster management but it needs to raise the capacity of local government bodies provided with better training so that risks and losses of lives, crops and assets could be reduced.
He laid emphasis on the need for ensuring participation of local people by involving them in planning disaster preparedness and management. Besides, coordination between the government bodies, NGOs, local communities and media should be established for effective management of disaster and its preparedness, he said.
At the function, representatives from different communities at the affected areas gave their opinions and shared their experiences with policy level people including the minister, development partner representatives and media people.
Working in three groups -- Sidr, Aila, Flood -- they highlighted the problems they face due to natural calamities, and the drawbacks in government initiatives in preparedness and management of disaster.