Program for Hydro-Meteorological Risk Mitigation in secondary cities in Asia (PROMISE)
| Coverage |
Chittagong City |
| Duration |
Jan 2006 to Dec 2007 |
Situation
The institution of Hydro Meteorological Risk Mitigation was set up to prevent weather related disasters such as the tragic 1991 cyclone, which killed over one million people. In 1997, Chittagong was more prepared for a cyclone that killed around 350 people. YPSA works with the Hydro Meteorological Risk Mitigation in 10 wards in Chittagong City . They provide community level preparedness programs which will alleviate human sufferings, and potential economic damage in the case of a weather related catastrophe.
Initiative
To prevent the loss of life and reduce potential for infrastructure damage, YPSA lives by the slogan “Know Risk, No Risk”. They carry out their values in two major ways:
1. Adopting specific hydro-meteorological disaster preparedness and mitigation measures:
YPSA has managed to reduce the risk of hydro meteorological disasters by involving the community in:
- Ward Volunteer Committee
- Ward Disaster Related Management Committees
- Training change agents and volunteers
- Simulation and mock exercises with wards and schools
- First AID, Search and Rescue training
- Enhancement of strategies, tools & methodologies related to community preparedness and mitigation of weather related disaster
- Determining hazard zones (hazard mapping and vulnerability assessment)
- Development for a Committee Risk Assessment outline
- Campaigns for raising public awareness
- Introductory workshops
2. Strengthen networks among risk management institutions/organizations.
It is necessary to build relationships with the organizations such as the District Relief and Rehabilitation, Earthquake Observation Center , and the Cyclone Preparedness Program, so that the lessons learned can be applied in the wards. This is done through the following activities:
- Conducting community risk assessment
- Conduct impact assessment survey
- Pilot community based end-to-end early warning
- Establishing links with the national forecasting agencies
- Developing an emergency work plan that can be disseminated to others
- Provide sensitization workshop for integration of risk management into urban governance
- Conducting risk based urban land use planning
- Establishing an emergency operation centre in Chittagong
- Developing Information, Education and Communication materials
- Conduct a baseline assessment survey
- Inventory of Community Based Organizations
- Action planning workshops at city level for preparedness and mitigation
- Awareness raising at educational institutions and community levels
- Observing national/international disaster safety day
- Institutionalizing a regional course on urban governance and risk management
- Developing networks for advocacy and information
Outcomes
YPSA has managed to train over 1000 people as volunteers, in the areas of First AID, and Search and Rescue. Currently, the project works in 10 wards, and plans on expanding to 10 more wards in Chittagong .
The pilot phase of the project was well accepted by different stakeholders of the project, but since its initiative it has encountered obstacles that need to be overcome. Political instability, funding, as well as limited resources makes the project a challenge to sustain. YPSA believes in the importance of this assignment, and will continue to fundraise for it by searching for funding from a variety of donors. They have upcoming activities with the Disaster Preparedness European Commission Humanitarian Office (DipECHO).
Supporting Organizations
USAID, ADPC and BDPC
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