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Download PDF Development partners, UN agencies and international NGOs praised the disaster preparedness and response of Bangladesh in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr’ at a meeting Friday at the UN Palace of Nations in Geneva.
The participants appreciated the country ownership of the government-led efforts in areas of early preparedness, rapid response, effective coordination as well as the resilience of the people of Bangladesh.
Besides, pledging emergency relief, they called for a national plan through which they could channel their rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance in the future.
Kasidis Rochanalorn, director at the Geneva branch of Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, chaired the meeting. The OCHA convened the meeting.
Bangladesh Permanent Representative in Geneva Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya made a presentation on the situation in Bangladesh.
The UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh, Renata Lok Dessallien, joined the meeting through live audio link. Christine South with International Federation of Red Cross also briefed the meeting, which was attended by more than thirty country delegations, UN agencies and international NGOs.
Debapriya mentioned that Bangladesh has an effective early-warning system that was critical in saving lives and reducing destruction. Giving an account of the devastation, he spelled out the steps taken by the government to facilitate delivery of international relief aid.
He noted that the cyclone that followed two devastating floods earlier this year would put the economy under further fiscal strain as the latest damage could cost several billions US dollars.
Debapriya stressed that the government welcomes international assistance though it has not formally appealed to that end, adding that the administration is ensuring a coordinated rapid response involving development partners, UN system and NGOs.
He urged all development partners to take into account the well-developed response mechanism in the country and the government’s understanding of the needs on the ground, adding that food- and-cash aid would be most helpful.
Appreciating the solidarity and support demonstrated by the international community at this challenging time of the country, Debapriya said Bangladeshi people have great resilience and that they can go back to normal life with a little help.
The delegations at the meeting praised Dhaka for its preventive actions and the coordinated manner in which the country is facing the disaster.
Some delegates expressed concern over inadequate distribution of relief material in inaccessible areas, intrusion of salinity into water sources and loss of productive assets including livestock and standing crops. They also expressed worries for children who have lost parents.
They stressed the need for long-term strategy to address the issues of livelihood and reducing the risks of natural disaster.
UN Resident Representative Renata Lok Dessallien gave an on-the-ground assessment of the disaster and said six groups have been formed that will focus on food, water and sanitation, health, shelter, logistics and early recovery issues. She said the groups are functioning in close coordination with the government.
Christine South, IFRC operations coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, updated the meeting on the work of civil society in Bangladesh in assisting the victims, especially the strong role Bangladesh Red Crescent volunteers are playing.
Representatives of WFP, FAO, UNICEF, WHO, ILO, UNHCR and Care International as well as country delegates from Canada, EU, Korea and Pakistan informed the meeting about steps taken by their respective agencies and countries.
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