Experts at the National Consultation on “Community Initiated Disaster Risk Reduction- CIDRR approach: An approach experimented by Friendship in Bangladesh,” at Hotel Lake castle in the capital on Tuesday, December 32, 2019 Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
NGOs cannot work properly without political will
Politicians can play a vital role in reducing the impact of disasters, to protect and generate sustainable rehabilitation of people whose lives are disrupted in the riverine areas of Bangladesh.
Experts said this at the National Consultation on “Community Initiated Disaster Risk Reduction- CIDRR approach: An approach experimented by Friendship in Bangladesh,” at Hotel Lake castle in the capital on Tuesday.
International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) and Friendship, jointly organized the program.
Political leadership and commitment to implement projects at the marginal level is one of the most important preconditions for sustainable rehabilitation, experts at the program said.
They added, community, local government and non-government organizations(NGO) cannot properly work together without political will to back them up.
They also urged policy makers, donors, and local field actors to not develop new mechanisms to fight against natural disasters and river disruption, but rather, to implement the existing plans and policies and to get to know the experiences of those who face such problems.
Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Director Dr Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed said: “There is lack of communication between local government, the host communities, and NGOs. As a result, at the end of the project, everything becomes inactive.”
“However, according to the constitution, to empower local government, political commitment is a must,” Falze added.
Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) Executive Director Dr A Atiq Rahman said: “Reducing risks must start with understanding the reality of the people most affected, and to take initiative with the participation of multiple stakeholders.
“Disaster risk management, response, and climate change adaptation are never stand alone actions.”
“The Community Initiated Disaster Risk Reduction (CIDRR) approach can be a gateway if union parishad members and other social activists are instrumental in blending local and global knowledge,” he added.
Gawher Nayeem Wahra, founder convener of Disaster Forum and Adjunct Faculty at Dhaka University, said: “Children’s rights in river disruption areas must be ensured during disasters as most school children cannot go to school during disasters.”
“During such times, parents do not have the capacity to bear their family expenses. They end up arranging early marriage for their daughters and boys get involved in child labour and drop out from schools.
“So if we run project programs during natural disasters then we can stop this,” he said.
“However, two significant gaps in addressing risk reduction remain big challenges. One, the gap between preparedness and emergency response, which can be minimized with the help of weather forecasts. And the other, the gap between disaster response, rehabilitation, and resilience,” Gawher emphasized.
Kazi Emdadul Hoque, director, Strategic Planning and head of Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Management, and among others, Dr Saleemul Huq, ICCCAD director, spoke at the program.
