COX’S BAZAR, Mar 10, 2020 (BSS) – After necessary refurbishment works, CARE Bangladesh today handed over 16 school-cum-cyclone shelter centres to the school managements here.
The implementing agency handed over seven multipurpose shelter centres to the respective school managements through Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mahmudullah Maruf at a meeting at his office here.
At another function held in Moheskhali today, local lawmaker Ashequllah Rafiq (Moheskhali-Kutubdia) handed over five cyclone centres to the
managements of the schools located at Moheskhali upazila.
Ramu upazila UNO Pranay Chakma handed over four refurbished centers to
the respective school managements at his office here.
Talking to BSS on the sidelines of the function, Director (Humanitarian
and Resilience) of CARE Bangladesh Kaiser Rejve said CARE Bangladesh with
support from USAID is implementing PRERONA project to improve the physical
infrastructure of Multi-purpose Cyclone Shelters (MPCS) to be more
accommodative during emergencies.
“I am confident the repair and refurbishment will also contribute to
creating conducive learning environment for students. All activities have
been undertaken in collaboration with LGED, Education Department and local
administration,” he said.
Due to its unique geographic location, Bangladesh is among the most
disaster-prone countries in the world, and Cox’s Bazar is one of the most
disaster-affected districts in Bangladesh. Flooding, deforestation, and the
potential for increased frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones make
this region vulnerable to natural hazards.
In Cox’s Bazar, there are more than 200 Government of Bangladesh (GoB)
designated Multi-Purpose Cyclone Shelters (MPCS) across the sub-districts of
Ramu, Maheskhali and Cox’s Bazar Sadar. Many of these shelters are in varying
stages of functionality and require repairs or upgrades to maximise their
accommodative capacity during an emergency.
The Promoting Resilience to Risks of Natural Hazards (PRERONA)’ project
is being implemented to improve multi-purpose cyclone shelters (MPCS) through
physical improvements to 96 MPCS, which will give safe shelter to around 1.3
lakh people during any disaster.
Project officials said interventions will enable communities have safe,
accessible shelter and school infrastructure that is adapted to natural
hazards and that reduces disaster risk.
Through physical improvements to MPCS, communities will have safe,
accessible shelter and school infrastructure.