Emergency 2007 Cyclone Recovery and Restoration Project

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Project Background Bangladesh is a disaster prone country that is affected almost every year by some kind of natural disaster, On November 15,2007 several districts of Bangladesh have experienced in unprecedented and unexpected cyclone SIDR that severely hit the south and south-west costal region of the country. Cyclone SIDR has destroyed human lives, livestock, standing crops, dwelling houses, fisheries both aquaculture and capture fisheries. The SIDR caused the loss of lives and properties like fishing boats/ fishing nets and fingerling. The many poor fisherman’s were exclusively dependent on these fishing activities for their livelihoods. It is reported that losses to the livelihoods and assets of some 2 million rural families in the south-west of Bangladesh (30 districts were affected of which 13 severely affected Upazilas in 6 districts).In addition, there was a huge loss of houses, crops, cattle, trees, and other livelihood assets. Reports mentioned that 43,146 acres of private pond/gher were severely damaged due to the tidal surge, contamination of water bodies and ponds with fallen leaves/bushes and other rotting material, oxygen depletion, destruction of pond dykes and boundary walls and shades. The huge losses caused by cyclone SIDR in the fisheries sector (capture fishery and coastal aquaculture) are most evident in the coastal areas and more specially with beneficiaries as well as artisan fisheries. Without having other alternative means for sustaining their livelihoods these people are leading very miserable lives. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) agreed, with development partners, that an integrated, multi -pronged approach is required for the economic recovery of the affected areas and for the reconstruction or replacement of destroyed physical assets, to ensure the protection and livelihood rehabilitation of communities living in those areas. The Emergency 2007 Cyclone Recovery and Restoration Project (ECRRP) Year 2 has been focusing on the critical medium to long-term restoration and rehabilitation needs as identified in the world Bank/GoB Joint Damage Loss and Needs Assessment. The World Bank has provided financial support to Bangladesh Government with the objective of long term restoration and rehabilitation needs of the cyclone affected fisheries involved in pond aquaculture. Voluntary Organization for Social Development (VOSD) has signed an agreement with FAO the implement the project “Identification and facilitation of Training of Beneficiaries and Distribution of Aquaculture Inputs’’ under ECCRP (Aquaculture Sub component).

The project is concentrated in the worst Sidr cyclone affected 13 Upazilas in 6 south-western districts namely Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi and Barisal. The project development objective is to facilitate the recovery from damage to livelihoods in the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors and to rehabilitate the rural livelihoods as well as restore the economic growth through support to three sub-sectors. In the ECCRP (Aquaculture Sub component).it is proposal to recruit one NGO in aquaculture to carry out specific activities of the project. services would be 12(twelve)months.

Emergency Rehabilitation Project-ICCO/KIA-Netherlands

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To support the SIDR affected people, VOSD has undertaken the “Emergency Rehabilitation Project  for Cyclone SIDR-2007 affected People in Kathalia and Uzirpur Upazilas of Jhalakathi and Barisal Districts” with the support of ICCO/KIA- Netherlands. The project activities have been implemented in twelve (12) Unions (5) Unions of Kathalia Upazila of Jhalakathi and 7 Unions of Uzirpur Upazila of Barisal District. The goal of  this project is to reduce the long-term negative humanitarian impact of the cyclone SIDR and to assist households in rebuilding their livelihoods.

The intervention has directly assisted cyclone-SIDR affected areas, 3,000 families to meet immediate basic needs, and rehabilitation after the SIDR, who are: a) Families from very poor, b) Families with deaths during cyclone, c) Families with children  under  10  years,  d)  Displaced  poor  families,  e)  Disabled  people,  f) Women headed families, g) Old men headed families etc.

Formation of Committee and purchase of rehabilitation materials

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To run the project smoothly and effectively, Project Implementation Committee (PIC), Upazila Disaster Management Committee (UzDMC), Union Disaster Management Committee (UnDMC) was formed. VOSD’s authority with the coordination of the UzDMCs, UDMCs, local administrations, government officials, and local elite and other senior Officers were present during rehabilitation activities which includes purchase and distribution of rehabilitation materials in Uzirpur and Kathalia Upazilas.

 

Project Participants Selection

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VOSD had listed all the severely SIDR affected people with the help of staff members, committee members and volunteers according to set criteria. The criteria were: widows, divorce, pregnant & lactating mother, old aged, landless, women headed family, disables.

Rehabilitation Materials and Soft Credit Distribution

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Rehabilitation materials and soft credit were distributed among the selected beneficiaries of 14 Unions with the presence of the organizational staffs, local UP personnel, Government Officials, UzDMC personnel, UnDMC personnel, local elite and senior staff members in different days. The selected beneficiaries were given a card, mentioning date, time, place, name, village, union etc. and invited to attend in the distribution places. On due date and time, the selected beneficiaries were present and rehabilitation materials and soft loan were distributed in presence of the ED of VOSD, Upazila level Officials, UP Chairmen, UDMC members, etc. The local administrative personnel were also involved during rehabilitation materials and soft loan distribution. Each day, rehabilitation materials and soft loan distribution was started with an  inauguration meeting and discussion by the present members.

a)     Seeds/Seedlings  Support  for  Homestead  Gardening  for  2000 Families

b) Fruit Tree Plantation Supports for 3000 Families:

c)  Job  Creation  through  Income  Generation  Activities  Supports  for 18217 Families:

 

Relief for SIDR and Flood Affected People

Different disasters are very common in the working areas of VOSD and every yearly some where some disasters hit and destroy the lives of the poor people. So, the organization undertakes relief and rehabilitation programs in each year to help the affected poor people at the time of disasters to rehabilitate them. VOSD has a number of trained volunteers and staffs for this purpose. Last year no remarkable disaster has hit the area. With the support of CONCERN Bangladesh, VOSD has been providing different disaster management and preparedness training to the group leaders, community leaders and other persons.  It  has  also  provided  much  food  preservation  pots,  information materials like Radio, Torch lights, Horns etc. for pre-circulation of disasters. So far, it has provided 1500 houses, 2650 latrines, 4000 goats, 1250 boats, 2650 pairs of chicken to the disaster affected families in the operational areas. It has also provided rice and other daily necessities to 12,700 families with the support of different donors. Apart from that, VOSD supported two High Schools and two Primary schools for repairing, provided humanitarian support a number of thirty- six patients and distributed 18,000 packets, Ors. Saline among the beneficiaries and also supported 350 NFE graduated working children for admitting in upper classes, 75 poor students for appearing in the SSC & HSC Examinations. With the help of this program, many disaster affected people have benefited through having houses, livestock, seeds and seedlings and also works, who had improved their family economic and social conditions and minimized their losses and damages of wealth, crops and other resources.

Agro-Inputs Program for the SIDR cyclone Victim in Bangladesh

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The Cyclone SIDR has destroyed human lives, livestock, standing crops, forestry resources, dwelling houses, educational institutions, roads, etc. due to high blow of cyclone SIDR i.e. 210-240 km speed. VOSD has signed an agreement with the Fael Khair Program-FKP-IDB to implement the project “Agro-Inputs Program for the   SIDR  cyclone  Victim   in   Bangladesh:  Fael  Khair  Program  in  Barisal, Jhalakathi, Barguna and Bhola Districts among the poor SIDR affected families to recover their damages and losses due to cyclone SIDR in respect of agriculture, livestock, fisheries and for their awareness raising, skill development, creating employment and income generation opportunities through providing interest free micro-credit support for Agro-based inputs to ensure their families’ rehabilitation. After signing, VOSD has been taken initiatives to implement the project  activities  among  the  poor  cyclone  SIDR  affected  families  through involving skilled and experienced staffs and volunteers under the guidance of different committees. The activities have been carried out up to December 31, 2010 according to terms of references of the project implementation plan.