ISLAMIC RELIEF BANGLADESH

Transcription

1 ISLAMIC RELIEF BANGLADESH FLOOD AFFECTED MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY PEOPLE OF NORTH-WESTERN IN BANGLADESH ENSURED FOOD SECURITY : A CASE STUDY OF BANGLADESH PREPARED BY Md. Murad Pervez PROGRAMME QUALITY LEARNING AND RESEARCH UNIT, ISLAMIC RELIEF BANGLADESH 2015 Md. Murad Pervez 1

2 INTRODUCTION: Jamalpur and Gaibandha districts located in the North-western region of Bangladesh covering about 5, 63,367 and 6, 12,283 households of areas and accommodating about 2.92 and 2.79 million people consisted with 7 Upazillas (BBS-2011) each district. Respective two districts are stands bank of the Jammna and Bormaputro rivers. Moreover, there are three unions named Amkhaowa under Dewangonj Upazila of Jamalpur district and Erendabari Union under Fulchhari Upazila and Mollar Char Union under Gaibandha Sadar Upazila of Gaibandha situated at char area in Jammna and Bormaputro rivers are most vulnerable area to the negative impact of climate change where roughly 7, 1890 (source BBS 2001) peoples are living. Rural people of respective UPs depend upon mostly agriculture especially paddy and jute cultivation in summer season and in the winter season they cultivate nut, vegetable, maze and sweet potato. This char is subject to very peculiar conditions and suffers from extensive annual flooding and river erosion. The crop land is completely inundated with water by devastating flood. marooned, they took shelter their selling on house and some of them took shelter other places like school, neighbours houses, etc. Again alongside flood devastating river erosion devoured their house, it like to added fuel to fire. Around more than 4200 households were displaced due to flood & river erosion under these three unions (JNA Report-2014). On the one hand, there was scarcity of shelter centre. Moreover, people were unable to cook owing to inundation. Again, marooned people were workless and Gaibandha District Jamalpur District household head of the family couldn t go to city or Up streaming water from hilly areas of Asam in India are main cause s flash floods in Jamalpur & Ghaibandha district. Dated on 18 August 2014, at dead of night atrocious flood inundated respective three unions as a consequence crops, homesteads and roads are inundated. People are became 2 Flood inundated homestead

3 other place for income afraid to lost family members, especially children and female, and In that case, as initiatives Islamic Relief Bangladesh implemented emergency response project at selected respective 3 unions of Jamalpur and Gaibandha districts named Flooding in North-Western Bangladesh project through financial and other logistic support by START fund network. Alongside IRB, different levels of stakeholders including District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO), Upazila administrative Officer (UNO), Upzila parishad, UP representatives and Community people were involved in the project activities. Consultation meeting of UP representatives cattle by robber and flood. In this situation, Inhabitants of flood affected people were utterly Meeting of project Implementation committee suffered scarcity of food, cloth, fuel, shelter and water & sanitation especially extreme poor, disable elder were most vulnerable. They were starvation due to scarcity of food in that case, people were suffering miserable condition. INITIATIVES OF ISLAMIC RELIEF AS EMERGENCY RESPONSE Forthwith start flood Islamic Relief distributed some foods including beaten paddy, puffed rice, molasses and saline among most vulnerable people. Though these foods helped of them it was not sufficient for them to survive in the marooned situation. 3 Ward wise community meeting for PIC formation and beneficiary selection. However, as soon as start flood on the char area of Jammna and Bormaputro rivers under respective districts, IRB, CARE, Oxfam and Christian Aid collaborative conducted need assessment using qualitative tools and technique like observation, FGD with flood affected vulnerable people, Community leader, UP representatives and KII. Through situation analysis most flood shock area and their vulnerabilities were identified. Moreover, through need assessment it was identified that targeted community people were suffering food crises mostly as well as found out their need based food like rice, oil, lentil, salt and potato. As emergency response, project activities, from beneficiary selection to food

4 distribution, accomplished speedily (within 7 days). Beneficiary selection was completed in consultation and coordination with Union Parishad representatives. Ward wise community meeting was conducted where majority percent (around 200 to 250 people) community people are participated. Moreover, through active participation of community people ward wise PIC (Project Implementation Committee) was formed with five members like UP representatives, teacher, religious specialist, Community leader two persons. Beneficiaries were listed by active participation of community people Relief card distribution among beneficiaries Relief card distribution among beneficiaries based on population of the area. In addition, most vulnerable people including elderly people, widow, separated women, pregnant or lactating mother, person with disability, orphan were given priority while selection. Furthermore, after a day of compilation beneficiary list, IRB staff verified it physically for finalization beneficiary selection. Then, after two days of beneficiary selection, relief collection cards distributed as well as information shared with them about goods distribution date. Relief s goods were procured by IRB Procurement Committee as per procurement policy. IRB Monitoring and Audit team 4 Beneficiaries in queue for relief checked goods to ensure best quality of these foods to finalization supplies order. After one day of completion beneficiary selection and cards distribution process foods were distributed among all of the targeted 3825 beneficiaries of the respective Union Parishads with active participation of UP representatives, PIC, IRB staff and community people. Beneficiaries received foods including rice 20kg, oil 2kg, lentil 2kg, salt 1kg and potato 5kg. Different level stakeholders were involved in monitoring and controlling process to accomplish the project activities ensuring accountability and transparency. Perspective of procurement process, Monitoring and Relief distributing among beneficiaries

5 Evaluation, Audit, Program and procurement department were directly involved to ensure quality of goods. In addition, Union Parishad, IRB staffs and PIC (project Implementation immensely suffering scarcity of foods. Beneficiaries are satisfied about quality of foods and it edible from child to elder persons. Moreover, distributed foods were under the foods habit of the beneficiaries according to cultural trait. Beneficiary is cooking foods Committee) as well as community people were involved in a straight line during beneficiary selection process. On the on hand, Upazila Prishad, Union Parishad, IRB staffs, police and PIC (project Implementation Committee) were physically involved in foods distribution. There were two queues, one for male and another for female, disable, widow, elderly person, pregnant and lactating mother, at food distribution place. Moreover disable, elderly and pregnant and lactating mother given priority to early receive relief. Furthermore, PIC and community people also assisted the beneficiaries through transport support to reach foods distribution place timely. LESSON LEARNED Direct community participation from starting to ending of the project by all level stakeholders ensured accountable & transparent beneficiary selection and food distribution. Having previous existence in the same area was helpful for smooth implementation of the short term project. Proper consultation with different stakeholders (NGOs, UP bodies, govt. Officials) resulted in avoiding duplication. Quality checking at different stages helped to ensure the quality of the goods. CONCLUSION: Total 30 KG foods are ensured food security of flood affected most vulnerable people. Beneficiaries are very much happy to receive relief, they expressed, and foods are ensured average 10 to 15 day s meals according to family size. They also added they received foods in proper time when they were 5