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Reconstrction work moves ahead
In living memory, the tropical cyclone Sidr, landslide in Chittagong and two devastating floods played havoc with the life and properties of the people particularly in the coastal region. In carrying out the relief and rehabilitation programme, the Food and Disaster Management Ministry obviously had to go through a most arduous and trying time in its career last year
The catastrophic cyclone of November 15 that hit the 30 districts in the south-western
coastal areas left a trail of unprecedented disaster. Of them, 12 districts suffered most and 18 partially Four of the 12 districts were ravaged most J9E The Sidr critically affected 89 lakh 23 thousand and 259 mI people belonging to 20 lakh, m 68 thousand and 26 families of 1,950 unions/pourashanas
under the 200 sub-districts of 30 districts. Nearly 3363 people were dead and 871 people remained untraced
Presently the relief and rehabilitation campaign
is nearing completion. The task was indeed a challenging one for any government to cope with. The disaster victims have now Io return to their normal life and activate the economy in their
areas.
Immediately after the cyclone, the government urgently launched its relief and rehabilitation programme. The civil administration and the military jointly took part in the task of providing relief and succor to the cyclone victims and also in finding out the bodies lost in the wake of cyclone. Along with the public and private organizations, international relief organizations too came forward to provide relief to the cyclone victims.
Initially, the- government started its relief activities with its own resources. Later, realising the extent of the damage, different international development agencies extended their supportive hand. Till date, they have promised support of nearly 223 million US dollar. The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank too have promised 250 million and 20 million US dollar respectively.
The government, besides providing emergency relief, also took steps to rehabilitate the cyclone victims without any delay. It also approved a short and long term plan to face such natural disasters in future. An amount of Tk 1 crore 54 lakh in cash as gratuitous relief, Tk 67 lakh for relief and 17 thousand 290 metric ton rice as gratuitous relief have been distributed among the victims by the Food and Disaster Management Ministry. Besides 4,500 packets of dry food, 450 metric tons of dates, 1200 metric tons of gram, 18,000 pieces of blankets. 16,256 pieces of tents, 13,000 bundles of corrugated tins, 24,504 packets of household utensils, 13,000 pieces of bed sheets and many other relief goods have been distributed. Financial assistance and relief goods of various kinds including 15,000 blankets have been distributed on behalf of the Chief Adviser's relief and welfare fund. Various private organisations came formed to supplement government's efforts in this humanitarian service. According to the NGO Affairs Bureau, the NGOs have provided relief assistance worth nearly Tk 177 crore which has been spent to meet the urgent necessities like food, clothes, drinking water, sanitation, agricultural and house-building materials. The government distributed the relief materials and started the relief and rehabilitation work efficiently and timely. The Chief Adviser's Secretariat, Food and Disaster Management Ministry. Army and other related Ministries and institutions took part in the relief and rehabilitation work with a sense of dedication. A regional coordination cell was set-up at Bansal with the Communication Advisor as principal coordinator of the relief operations. The Army performed a splendid job in transporting and distributing relief goods. People in areas not hit by the Sidr also came forward spontaneously in aid and of their fellow brothers and sisters. This gesture by people in safe areas has surely earned them a gratitude of the nation and will serve as a bond of national unity.
The government have already drawn up a number of short and long-term plans for disaster management. The implementation of these plans shall help not only the rehabilitation of cyclone victims but also will be of much help in confronting any future natural disaster.
Development in disaster forecasting: The geographical location and change in world climate have significantly contributed to the increase in natural disasters. Our country almost routinely face natural disasters each year. In such a context, it is imperative to improve the disaster forecasting system urgently for saving the lives and properties of disaster victims. Presently, a special plan is being implemented for the purpose by the Food and Disaster Management Ministry Initiative has also been taken by this Ministry to simplify and modernize the disaster forecasting. Cyclone Preparedness Programme is also being strengthened with funds provided by the government.
Construction of cyclone-shelters: In coastal areas. 2,000 cyclone-shelters are being constructed as per recommendations made in 1993 by a committee headed by Prof. Jamilur Reza Chowdhury. Presently there are 1,800 cyclone-shelters in the area The experts are now preparing the design for construction of new cyclone-shelters according to the plan. Along with it, the subject of constructing shelters to protect the animal resources from the natural disasters is also receiving urgent attention.
Construction of embankments: In the sixties embankments were constructed in the coastal areas to protect human lives, resources and harvests from the onslaught of recurring floods
Over the decades those embankments were left uncared without any corrective measure or repair due to financial limitations of the government. Other than these, embankments, the need for constructing embankments in some char lands and islands is new being felt urgently Water Resources Ministry has drawn up necessary plans for repair of old embankments and construction of new ones.
Afforestation plans: The tropical cyclone Sidr hit the largest mangrove of the planet and. the world heritage, the Sundarbans in the southern coasts and devastated it badly This forest had been serving as a protective shield for the people living in the region This important forest must return to its natural beauties and characteristics. Aside this, the people and the resourses of the region need to be saved from the vagaries of nature through large-scale afforestation in the entire coastal area including the inaccessible char lands. The Environment and Forest Ministry shall prepare a special plan for the purpose
Reconstruction of homesteads: Nearly 5 lakh homesteads have been totally demolished by the cyclone Sidr and many more partially. Unless those homesteads are
reconstructed or repaired the cyclone victims cannot return to their normal life.
The government have already allotted Tk 150 crore for this purpose. Tk. 5 thousand has been given for each of the homesteads affected by the cyclone. The brotherly
government of Saudi Arabia has agreed to
reconstruct 20,000 houses. The friendly country India have assured to reconstruct 10 villages that had suffered most and the UK government assured to rebuild one village. A number of NGOs
and private organizations have also come forward to help the
housing sector.
Agricultural rehabilitation: The cyclonic storm Sidr caused widespread damage to agriculture. It is now apprehended that the production of rice in the 30 cyclone-hit districts will be less by 12 lakh 95 thousand and 315 metric tons. The Agriculture Ministry has approved a well co-ordinated plan for rehabilitation of agriculture and also for extending support and cooperation for the availability of high-yielding paddy seeds, fertilizer and water for irngation. Banks are also providing loans for agriculture on easy terms.
Returning to normal life: The cyclone Sidr has affected mostly the lower middle class and the middle class in the rural areas. Their business establishments and agricultural lands suffered much. This particular class of people, does not benefit much through emergency relief that are given to cyclone-hit people in general. This being so, they need to be provided urgently with the easily available financial assistance. The Food and Disaster Management Ministry have allotted Tk 10 crore for rehabilitation of cyclone victims under its programe for risk-reduction. The cyclone victims are allowed to take loans ranging from Tk 5 thousands to 20 thousand under the programme. Twenty percent of the loan is not returnable while the remaining 80 percent are to be paid back as required under the prescribed rules.
Structural Reforms: With a view to assisting the disaster victims to return to their normal life and to pursue the economic activities, it is urgent to rebuild the ruined infra-structure with changes, if necessary. The Sidr has caused colossal damage to roads, bridges, culverts, educational institutions, mosques, temples and other places of worship, and to rebuild those is a gigantic task confronting the nation. The concerned Ministry has already prepared plans and the implementation strategy, in this regard.
The Education Ministry has allotted Tk 36 crore for repair of the damaged high schools, colleges and madrassas and for purchase of books for students appearing in the S.S.C and H.S.C examinations. Aside this, Tk 45 crore has been provided by the Directorate of Primary Education for repair of the partially damaged primary schools. A scheme has been prepared to rebuild the totally damaged schools at a cost of Tk 743 crore under the second programme for development of primary education.
Food Security: In the badly Sidr-hit areas of 12 districts, the government have, along with the emergency relief assistance, introduced special VGF programme that will continue till March next. Under the special VGF programme each of the 25 lakh 90 thousand families shall get 15 Kg rice every month. For this purpose, the Food and Disaster Management Ministry shall distribute 1 lakh 50 thousand 270 metric tons of rice. Besides this, as in other parts of the country, the regular test relief assistance and Food for Work programme have also been started.
Bangladesh have earned good reputation in international arena for successfully tackling natural disasters at different times. An efficient
manpower have also been created through the disaster management campaign. The permanent orders for disaster management serves as an extraordinary directives in combating natural disaster. The directives are prepared to confront the natural disasters on war-footing, and it provides for building of a network for the purpose right from the lowest level to the disaster management centre. It also provides for a national council to be headed by the Chief Advisor/Prime Minister, inter-ministerial coordination committee headed by the Advisor for Food and Disaster Management Ministry and district committees headed by the Deputy Commissioners. Similarly there are disaster management committees at sub-district and union levels. This time.
all such committees went into action as per directives given in the permanent orders regarding disaster management as soon they received the forecast of the coming cyclone.
Furthermore, control rooms were set-up for continuous monitoring of the disaster situation at the office of the Chief Advisor, Armed Forces Division. Press Informantion Department. Food and Disaster Management Bureau.
It is urgent that we pay special attention to the following for reduction of losses we suffer in the wake of natural disasters, (a) Steps need to be taken so that the people in the concerned areas get disaster warning message speedily.
(b) To expand and develop the Cyclone Preparedness Programme, (c) To expand the Disaster Management Network, (d) To invent new strategy to combat the natural disasters and strengthen the institutional training for the purpose.
We have been facing natural disasters each year But this year it had become more difficult to operate the relief and rehabilitation programme in view of the severity of the cyclone Sidr Our national legacy has always been to stand by the side of the distressed, and we maintained it unfailingly this year too This fellow-feeling displayed by the entire nation has obviously been a great source of inspiration for the disaster victims to return to their normal life.
-Secretary In-Charge, Ministry of Food & Disaster Management