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International Disaster Reduction Day

Partnering for safer cities

Stefan Priesner
**UNDP is proud to have stood with Bangladesh as this country has become a global leader in disaster management and risk reduction. Particularly significant has been the partnership forged with the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management in the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP).**
ONE of the often hidden successes in Bangladesh over the last 30 years is the remarkable achievements recorded in the disaster management field, and more recentlyin disaster risk reduction. The devastating reality of Bangladesh's disaster vulnerability is not hidden. As the tragic events of the Nimtoli fires earlier this year, or the comparatively minor flooding of recent days show us, the threats are real, often unexpected, and usually affect the most vulnerable the worst.
But the people of Bangladesh and successive governments have affirmed their commitment to addressing these threats, and have made tremendous progress as the establishment of a dedicated ministry, the development of the Standing Orders on Disaster, and the creation of the Cyclone Preparedness Programme — a 50,000 strong team of volunteers — so clearly illustrate.
The International Day for Disaster Reduction provides us with the opportunity to reflect on how far we have come, and also to consider the challenges that remain. UNDP is proud to have stood with Bangladesh as this country has become a global leader in disaster management and risk reduction. Particularly significant has been the partnership forged with the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management in the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP).
CDMP supported the paradigm shift from disaster response to disaster risk reduction. This meant building capacity of stakeholders at all levels to proactively prepare for the contingencies of multiple hazards in addition to reacting when disaster strikes. From 2004 to 2009, UNDP, with the financial support of DFID and the EU, provided the first phase of technical support, enabling the ministry to take a global lead in disaster management.
Over 28,000 members of union and upazila disaster management committees were trained, supporting decentralised management of the national disaster system. 644 unions across the 16 most disaster vulnerable districts in Bangladesh undertook systematic risk assessments and developed corresponding action plans, ready for integration into local level development planning.
Community-based risk reduction projects were funded across 381 unions. Bangladesh Meteorological Department and the Cyclone Preparedness Programme were significantly upgraded through technical support and equipment. And 22 public training and academic institutions are now integrating disaster management into their curricula, educating the disaster managers of tomorrow.
As such, CDMP has made great strides in supporting the achievement of the government's disaster management vision "to reduce the risk of people, especially the poor and the disadvantaged from the effects of natural, environmental and human induced hazards to a manageable and acceptable humanitarian level, and to have in place cm efficient emergency response management system."
Yet, while much has been done, this year’s theme for the Day, "Making Cities Resilient: My city is getting ready,” reminds us that the challenge of fully attaining this goal remains formidable, particularly in urban risk reduction. Dhaka, already home to more than 13 million people, is growing at 4% a year, much of which is unplanned.
Disaster vulnerabilities in our urban centres are clear and immediate, and they pose special challenges. The earthquake felt in Dhaka and surrounding areas on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr reminded us all of this, but urban risk is not limited to earthquakes. We need to remain committed to a multi-hazard approach to urban risk reduction that will see all of our cities safer in the long run.
In recognition of this, CDMP has been providing targeted support for urban risk management to the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, and the Geological Survey of Bangladesh. For the first time ever, geological fault lines are being studied in Bangladesh, and this is providing policy-makers with the data to assess earthquake risks, and put appropriate contingency plans in place.
Building on this, UNDP together with the financial support of DFID, the EU, and the governments of Norway, Sweden and Australia have invested $69 million in a second phase of CDMP. From 2010-2015, this expanded partnership will build on the successes and learning of the first phase, helping to develop strong
and professional national institutions and strengthen the management and coordination capacity within and across these; reduce the risks to rural populations and empower them; disaster-proof development funding across nine partner government ministries; and effectively manage community level adaptation to disaster risks from climate change.
The second phase will also see continued support to the government of Bangladesh in reducing the risks for urban communities (with a focus on the extremely poor), including among others, supporting and training a network of 62,000 urban volunteers; developing urban community risk assessments and risk reduction plans in many slums; and creating ward-based earthquake contingency plans for urban centres.
Much hard work is ahead of us. Bangladesh is not yet ready for a major urban disaster. Much more needs to be done to overcome the lack of inter-agency engagement on disaster preparedness and response planning; to address unplanned urban growth; to bolster technical and manpower of city development authorities; to tackle the limitations of the fire service to adequately respond; to enforce building codes and integrate disaster vulnerability considerations into the approval processes; not to mention the retrofitting of existing structural risks, such as in Old Dhaka or essential infrastructure like hospitals and schools. It is a large and daunting task.
Yet, the key to sustainable success will be found in us all working together. Responsibility for risk reduction does not lie with the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, or even the government, alone. We can, and should, all play a part in improving this situation — from the concerned authorities to households in slums; from development partners to the private sector developers, we must all shoulder part of this task.
There is no doubt that Bangladesh can overcome these challenges. One only has to look back at the 1971 cyclone which took the lives of over 500,000 people and caused untold misery and damage. Today, coastal Bangladesh has an established and growing number of multipurpose cyclone shelters, an integrated Early Warning System, and a clear institutional management arrangement through the Standing Orders on Disaster. Bangladesh's success in rural and coastal risk reduction can be replicated. Urban risk reduction is achievable.
Stefan Priesner is UNDP Bangladesh's Country Director and UNDP Resident Representative.