Communities take disaster risk reduction into their hands: Lessons from Bangladesh
By Caroline Borchard, Regional Risk Reduction Associate for Asia, BCPR

Earlier this year I went to Bangladesh to document good practices from the disaster management initiatives undertaken in the country. Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to disasters such as cyclones and floods, with at least a fifth of the country submerged by heavy rains each year. In July and August 2007, flooding killed more than 1,000 people and an estimated 40 percent of the country was underwater, forcing millions to flee their homes. Yet, the importance of disaster risk reduction for development is starting to make strides in Bangladesh. For example, in October 2007, the National Economic Council called for all development projects approved by the government to include components related to risk identification and mitigation. In November 2007, disaster risk reduction, and its linkages with development plans at national and community level, were recognized as key functions of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management. My visit to Bangladesh gave me the opportunity to see how several communities had begun to make disaster risk reduction a reality with the support of UNDP and local non-governmental organizations.

One of the communities I visited had identified disaster-related risks and had designed a plan to address those risks. We met with members of the non-governmental organization (NGO) involved in this initiative, who described how risks had been identified in the community. Different groups were formed that had specific concerns when it comes to disasters, including women, daily wage workers, the business community and the local disaster management committee, which consists of local government officials. The NGO workers provided assistance to the different groups in identifying the specific problems they face such as the lack of adequate health care to prevent water-borne diseases in times of floods. The groups were then asked to identify the best solutions. In the end, they agreed on an action plan to reduce the community’s exposure to disasters. This plan was then presented to the local government, relevant sectoral departments and national non-governmental organizations to mobilize interest and financial resources. Long-term financial support for these plans is crucial to ensure that the risk reduction work achieved by communities is sustained over time.

My colleagues and I also went to see a village that had benefited from the UNDP risk reduction fund. I saw how a community of poor families of farm labourers, who used to live in an area exposed to recurrent floods, had moved to a higher ground built well above recent flood levels. As a result, their houses, sanitation facilities, water hand pumps and livelihoods, such as yarn spinning and vegetable gardening, are now safe. With income protected and better water and sanitation facilities available, many lives and economic assets can be protected when the next flood happens.

These examples show how a small investment in reducing communities’ exposure to disasters can go a long way in saving lives and livelihoods when the next natural hazard strikes. CPR

Photo caption: Boy in Bangladesh is sitting at the doorsteps of his flooded home. Source: UNDP Bangladesh

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In this Issue

> Six months after Cyclone Nargis
> Success story: Indonesia
> Lessons from Bangladesh
> Natural disasters in Kyrgystan
> Women and disaster recovery
> Natural disasters in Armenia
> Spotlight on Staff

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