ZCZC
BSS-43
WORKSHOP-ROHINGYAS
Coordinated response to any cyclone in Rohingya camps stressed
COX’S BAZAR, March 13, 2019 (BSS) – Speakers at a workshop here today stressed the need for coordinated response to any cyclone in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camps considering the dense settlements and extreme fragile materials of the camps along with risk of landslide during and after any cyclone landfall.
As the Rohingya camps settlements are very dense and built of extremely fragile materials, risk of landslide during and after cyclone landfall is still very high. So, coordinated system to respond to the impact of the cyclone is essential, they said.
Speakers said this at a workshop on ‘Cyclone and Monsoon Preparedness: Cox’s Bazar District and Camp Settlements’ jointly organized by Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) and the government of Bangladesh here today, a UNDP press release said.
The two-day workshop was organized ahead of the approaching cyclone and the monsoon season with the support of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), American Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Stakeholders from the government, UN Agencies and NGOs, INGOs took part in the workshop.
Cyclone Programme Preparedness (CPP) Director Ahmadul Haq presented a keynote paper in the opening session. He said CPP has engaged 6585 volunteers in Cox’s Bazar, among them 990 in Teknaf, 375 in Ukhiya and 1180 in Cox’s Bazar.
Addressing the function Senior Coordinator of ISCG Filip Papas said Rohingya camps settlements are very dense and built of extremely fragile materials. He laid importance on a coordinated system to response to the impact of the cyclone.
Md Rafiqul Islam Babu, Deputy Secretary General, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), stressed the need for collaboration and cooperation among the organisations working in Cox’s Bazar for risk reduction.
About 250 participants from various government offices, BDRCS, UN, NGOs and INGOs took part in the workshop.
On the second day discussion will focus on Disaster Risk Reduction in Cox’s Bazar, where Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md Shah Kamal will present as the chief guest.
BSS/PR/PI/AKH/1853 HRS