Disaster and Emergency Management Unit (DEMU)
| Coverage |
Chittagong City |
| Duration |
Since 2003 |
Situation
Since Bangladesh 's devastating cyclone in 1970 where approximately one million people perished, YPSA recognizes that disaster management is a key feature to protecting the poor and vulnerable. Specifically, Chittagong City is a ‘natural hazards prone' area which means poor people's livelihoods are defenseless against earthquakes, cyclones and floods. In order to protect the impoverished people's already delicate assets and incomes, the DEMU was established especially to manage disaster, emergency, relief, and rehabilitation programs in Chittagong City.
Initiative
The Disaster and Emergency Management Unit has set up two programs to protect vulnerable people's livelihoods against natural disasters:
- Reducing Risk of the Vulnerable Communities to Flood & Earthquake
- Hydro-Meteorological Risk Mitigation in secondary cities in Asia (PROMISE-Bangladesh)
Outcomes
The unit has managed to establish two new projects, in order to address the vulnerability of communities from earthquakes and weather related disasters (i.e., cyclones and floods).
YPSA targets mainly schools in its attempt to implement disaster preparedness and mitigation initiatives. They have reached 9 500 students alone and 1000 volunteers, and have trained them in important life skills such as First AID, and Search and Rescue.
Despite the projects' challenges for funding, YPSA will try and seek support from a variety of donors to maintain their progress.
|
