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By Subinoy Dutta and Kiron Reddy
In August, Mercy Corps met practically with members of the Union Disaster Management Committee in Bangladesh to be informed of the demanding situations faced by communities facing unemployment and coronavirus when flooded.
Bangladesh has been devastated by one of the most severe and sustained floods in recent years with a third of the country underwater. To put this in perspective, flooded spaces are larger than the total Netherlands. Authorities have reported more than 4 million others. affected people and a million flooded houses. COVID-19 cases continue to increase, leading to physical and socioeconomic fitness problems. Concern Worldwide, Mercy Corps and Practical Action, members of the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance in Bangladesh, worked with people vulnerable to flooding communities to address the composite dangers of COVID-19 and flooding.
Initial studies and studies conducted in April and May through surveys by 15 union disaster management committees (UDCCs) in the 3 districts of Faridpur, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha have obviously shown that the monsoon season will most seriously affect communities this year by exacerbating annual floods with socio-economic and fitness hazards related to the COVID-19 crisis. The UDMC reported that 72% of the population was unemployed due to movement restrictions and office closures. In addition, all UDMs reported difficulties accessing commodities such as food, in a population where one in three people live in poverty and part of the population is known as food insecurity.
Since our report was published, one of the worst floods in recent history has devastated those communities. To be more informed about the scenario in flood-affected communities, Mercy Corps conducted remote online sessions with 29 members of 15 UDMtm between August 10 and 18. The sessions highlighted the alarming desires and demanding situations of vulnerable teams to deal with COVID-19 and flooding.
Severe and common flooding over the more than two months has left others under a “water blockade” with flooded houses, schools, temples and mosques. The UDMC reports that the intensity of recent flooding has been “three times higher” than in the post-monsoon seasons. With most underwater roads and unavailability and affordability for boats, other people do not have transportation.
The limited augmented area you have is incredibly full of other people looking to protect themselves from flooding. In fact, the lack of land unaffected by the floods has forced families to live in boats, accessing only the upper deck to cook before returning to their boats. In such circumstances, access to soap and hand washing services is non-existent. With two of the unions reporting COVID-19 cases, mitigating the threat of transmission and preventing an epidemic is a concerning challenge.
Health services and network clinics are closed due to continued flooding. Pregnant women, the elderly, and others with existing diseases cannot exercise. Community members report that waterborne diseases, such as diarrhoea, are expanding as a result of flooding. With hospitals and clinics closed, medications are also very limited. The closure of essential fitness services means that other people will have difficulty receiving mandatory testing and care in case of suspected COVID-19 infection.
The socio-economic effect of COVID-19 is worsening as a result of flooding and pushing others into poverty. Some UDMs are starting to see cases of famine. The majority of the population has been unemployed as a result of the pandemic, with vulnerable groups, such as day laborers, mainly affected. Recent flooding has left farmland underwater and the maximum number of crops has been damaged. People can’t meet fundamental requirements. desires such as access to food and blank water due to lost income. Emergency assistance such as food, water, medicines and agricultural supplies and appliances is urgently needed.
Alarming survival mechanisms have been observed. Prolonged flooding has forced others to sell valuable assets, such as domestic livestock, at minimal cost because they cannot evacuate them to the upper floor due to limited space. In some cases, they would possibly get only one-tenth of the same previous price. .
The most vulnerable populations do not have monetary resources such as recoverable loans because they do not have a reliable source of income. Unemployment, food security, and flood-exacerbated livelihood impacts are likely to push many others into a cycle of poverty. and have long-term implications for communities.
Despite incredibly delicate circumstances, UDMCs and network members have proactively worked with vulnerable teams through activities such as food distribution and mask supply.
UDMC has also taken projects from its non-public expenses to send others who need medical service, such as the elderly, pregnant women and children, to fitness services via a boat. In another case, the UDMC organized a medical team of two physicians and six fitness assistants with the assistance of the Upazlia Health Complex and Concern Worldwide to supply nine communities on the remote river with the coal spaces most affected by the floods in Sundargonj Upazila.
Fully functional and active UDCS are critical for communities to prepare and respond to disasters, adding floods Up to 15 UDMCs are not fully active, flood reaction systems and skills such as emergency planning, volunteer lists, first aid, wish testing, and searching and rescuing is not a disaster.
In the unions that participated in the discussions, UDMCs are lately large, with about 20 members, most of whom come from government departments and agencies. UDMC’s activities tend to deteriorate because members prioritize their daily work. while UDMC’s participation and commitment are voluntary.
Some UDMC members we spoke with recommended that the committee come with more members from the network who will have a greater incentive to conduct crisis threat relief activities and reduce membership through the part to make meetings more less difficult to coordinate. The female members are represented and can have interaction is also critical to reflect the diversity of desires and perspectives.
In addition, we find that UDMC members obviously do not know how to access the budget or resources for activities and depend on the president or secretary to obtain data and opportunities from district offices. District/subnational governments should assist UDCCs so that they can participate in budgeting processes and access the budget to highlight mandatory activities and skills.
Local and community governance systems are the first to respond to errors and also those who know your network best. don’t turn into humanitarian emergencies.
The webinar we are coordinating on Wednesday, September 9 is an opportunity to sign up to discuss the demanding situations faced by others in Bangladesh affected by the effects of the pandemic and coronavirus floods, and to begin paving the way to meet their needs. Learn more, adding how to access it, here.
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