Relief supporting development in Bangladesh

Heavy monsoon rains and cyclones have caused flash flooding in Bangladesh, causing widespread damage to homes, crops, and communities.  PWRDF is responding through long-term partner UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternatives).

UBINIG

PWRDF has been working with UBINIG in Bangladesh  to support food security and maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH). UBINIG has trained farmers in new techniques, promoted the use of “seed huts” to store some seed ensuring a wide variety of vegetables, fruits and herbs are available to local farmers, taught families about the importance of nutrition, and more.   UBINIG’s MNCH program has trained and supported traditional birth attendants called dais, provided daighors, maternal health houses where the dais can see patients, refer them to the health clinic or hospital if necessary, teach classes, etc, and the provision of bicycle and boat ambulances to make it easier to get patients to the clinic or hospital.

PWRDF’s Response

Both the farmers and the dais were badly affected by the floods.  PWRDF has responded by sending $20,000 through UBINIG to provide food and other items to families who lost their homes and crops and  seeds and seedlings to farmers, as well as to help with the reconstruction of homes and rebuilding of maternal health centres and community seed banks in 17 villages.

Between the 1^st and 9^th of September, UBINIG conducted a needs assessment in the villages, and then distributed food (rice, potatoes, cooking oil) to 850 families.  4 daighors (maternal health houses staffed by dais, traditional birth attendants trained and supported by UBINIG) are also being repaired or rebuilt.

In total, 1000 families will receive food and other essential supplies, 4 daighors will be repaired, 40 dais will have their medical bags replaced, 30 dais’ homes will be repaired, 2 community seed banks will be repaired, and 400 farming families will receive seeds and seedlings to restart their crops.

This flooding is an example of how relief and development work intertwine.  PWRDF’s long-term development work is having positive impact in the communities served by UBINIG, but the recent flooding has set that work back.  The short-term relief efforts will allow the farmers and dais supported by UBINIG—and in turn the communities they are part of—to recover more quickly from this natural disaster.