Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Community based disaster preparedness in Mongla
The mock drill taught people to identify high-risk and low-risk areas as well as the most vulnerable people
An attractive session of Jarigaan (folk song) enthralled a large number of people including hundreds of students at Haldibunia Secondary School premises under Chila union of Mongla upazila in Bagerhat district on a mid-February Thursday. The Jarigaan was organised in the disaster-prone coastal village of Haldibunia to make people aware about the adverse effect of climate change as well as prepare them to resiliently face the natural calamities before, during and after their occurrence. The choir girls consisting of community action group (CAG) and community volunteers (CV) highlighted issues on climate change and disaster management. This was followed by an integrated disaster risk reduction simulation exercise participated by the members of CV, CAG and union disaster management committee (UDMC). The participants exhibited their skills on evacuation, search, rescue and first aid. On many occasions, local people are the main actors in disaster risk reduction and disaster response. When a disaster strikes, immediate response (i.e., search and rescue and care for those injured, traumatised and rendered homeless) is often carried out by family members, friends and neighbours and grassroots organisations. In cases of many small-scale events triggered by natural hazards, there may be little or no external support at all. Community based disaster preparedness forms the backbone of any disaster management initiatives in societies with low government capacity. The mock drill taught people to identify high-risk and low-risk areas as well as the most vulnerable people including the elderly, disabled and sick, lactating mothers, pregnant women, and young children in rural areas. The drill taught people to take care of disaster warning and involve in rescue, evacuation, first aid, water and sanitation provisions. People learnt how to prepare a survival kit (dry food for several days, candles, matches, kerosene oil) and the safe keeping of valuables and important documents. An orientation programme meant for students was also held at the school. As schools are the nerve centers of a community, the students have generally been involved in such disaster management initiatives. Participation in awareness and capacity building are routine work for students. The awareness also reaches their parents. The events were organised as part of a climate campaign being conducted under a project titled, 'Improved Food and Livelihood Security (IFLS) in Bagerhat District in the Context of Increased Disaster Risk and Climate Change' in Bagerhat district. The upazilas are Mongla, Rampal and Sharankhola. Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), Caritas Bangladesh, ADD International and ITN-BUET have been jointly implementing the project being funded by the European Union (EU) and CAFOD, UK. The project includes development of agriculture, fisheries and livestock; enhancement of income of the beneficiaries through substitute livelihood pursuits; enhancement of food production and nutritional values; strengthening advocacy initiatives on issues like climate change and food security. The project also caters for greater collaboration with the government for undertaking joint initiatives, capacity development at family, union and upazila level in management and preparedness for disasters. The three-year project was launched in March, 2010 and will conclude in February, 2013. As many as 7,500 families have been brought under purview of food, livelihood, security and development. The beneficiaries include the poor, the disabled and women. While visiting the project area in Mongla, IFLS Project Coordinator Mukhlesur Rahman told journalists that 36 CAGs consisting of 432 members were formed to ensure food security for the community as well as overall development in the project area and 36 community volunteer groups (CVGs) consisting of 252 members were formed to reduce the risk of disaster and lessen the loss arising out of climate change impact. They were given necessary trainings and orientations. About 10% beneficiaries of DAM and CARITAS are physically challenged people while all the beneficiaries of ADD International are physically challenged. It is working with related organisations. ITN-BUET is providing solar power to the beneficiaries at a nominal cost and also launched solar-based water purification system. While talking to this writer, Mongla Upazila Nirbahi Officer Dr Md Mizanur Rahman said that people are being encouraged in shrimp cultivation in a planned manner as well as in saline tolerant cultivation and substitute employment generation through the project. DAM has been sensitizing both the decision makers and implementing agencies to highlight adverse effects of climate change and go for community preparedness to mitigate the risks of disaster. CAFOD Programme Coordinator Umme Kulsum said, 7,500 families of coastal areas were brought under the project for creating alternative employment opportunities and in saline tolerant farming to reduce the risk of disaster. Bagerhat district was affected by several calamities like cyclone Sidr, more frequent tidal wave, severe floods over the past couple of decades. Frequency of natural disasters has increased owing to climate change. The writer is a communications activist
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