I. Introduction
II. Project Location
III. Activities

“Disaster Preparedness against Risk of Flood and Earthquake in Bangladesh” is a project funded by ECHO (European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office), and implemented by Islamic Relief Bangladesh. This project covers a time span of January 2006 until March 2007. It is intended to introduce disaster-preparedness initiatives to vulnerable communities in disaster-prone areas of Bangladesh.

Islamic Relief implements the project in two locations; Sylhet City and Sunamganj District. The activities in Sylhet City is directed to Earthquake Preparedness in 6 wards, covering 22,529 people. Meanwhile, activities in Sunamganj District is focused on Flood Preparedness in 12 unions, covering 11,265 people.

II. Project Location a. Sylhet City

Sylhet is one of the most important cities in the north eastern part of Bangladesh and also falls within the most earthquake prone zone of the country. Between 1897 and 1999, 7 major earthquakes occurred in the Sylhet region (surface-wave magnitude larger than 7.5) [Biswas, Dr. Abdul Awal (2000), Earthquake in Sylhet Zone and Pre-Action (Paper presented at a seminar organized by the Sylhet Pourashava and Grameen Jonokallayan Sangsad) Sylhet]. Like Gujrat, local people are not aware of seismic status of the region. The recent earthquake happened in Sylhet in May 8, 1997 with a magnitude of 5.7. Due to the city’s strategic & economic importance it is essential to estimate the likely consequences of potential earthquakes so that suitable mitigation measures may be developed & implemented.

Sylhet stands on the northern bank of river Surma. The building stock of Sylhet Municipality exhibits a mix of several different building technologies. The most commonly used building categories are: 1) reinforced-concrete frame buildings with partition walls; 2) brick masonry with reinforced concrete roofs using cement mortar; 3) informal brick masonry (which may or may not use cement mortar); 4) houses made of other materials such as CI sheets, thatch, mud, wood and other light weight elements. The city is growing haphazardly in the east and west directions.

b. Sunamganj District

Sunamganj district, located in the north-eastern corner of Bangladesh and adjacent to the hilly Meghalaya state of India, has for decades remained poor and neglected. Not only the area is highly vulnerable to flash flood and annual flood, the prevailing natural conditions throughout the year are very unfavourable for living. Sunamganj is predominantly a haor area, which is filled up with water from a minimum of six feet up to as high as 13-14 feet lasting 6-7 months annually, making the livelihood of the poor and marginalised impoverished and asset less. It is a major disaster prone area. No development in the district can be conceived of without addressing the number one problem – flood hazards. Apart from the incidence of flood, social conservativeness, high social inequality, illiteracy and ignorance coupled with low income and lack of nutrition are strong barriers to socio-economic development in this region.

III. Activities

The project activities comprise of ten broad sectors, covering physical and non physical works. Advocacy and research element are also part of the activities. In all these activities, active participation of government officers, community members, teachers, students, women groups, and youths are strongly encouraged, so as to ensure project sustanaibility.

1. Infrastructure Support
2. Advocacy and Public awareness Raising
3. Mitigation works
4. Mapping and Data Computerisation
5. Education
6. Early warning
7. Research and dissemination
8. Facilitation of Coordination
9. Institutional Strengthening
10. Local capacity building/training