Last week, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) of Bangladesh, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) held a lesson-learning workshop on strengthening early warning systems and forecast-based early action in Bangladesh.
The success of WFP’s forecast-based cash assistance to 6,000 households in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, was also highlighted, according to a WFP press release today. WFP, MoDMR, and EU Humanitarian presented the preliminary findings of a study on enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of early warning systems for both flash floods and storm surge floods in disaster-prone areas during the workshop.
With the help of the EU’s generous humanitarian assistance to its forecast-based finance program, WFP has been able to support families in Teknaf over the past two years, helping them prepare for impending floods and accelerating recovery activities thereafter.
The government’s attempts to manage the risk of disaster have benefited from this program.
“This project holds significant importance as it served as a testing ground for technical solutions essential for enhancing the implementation of shock-responsive social protection in Bangladesh. We are eager to continue supporting the Government of Bangladesh, particularly through MoDMR, in this area for the long term,” said Anna Orlandini, Head of Office, EU Humanitarian in Bangladesh.”The inclusion of financing components is crucial to ensure the sustainability of our collective efforts in combating climate change. WFP and its partners remain committed to advancing these proven interventions to help vulnerable communities be better prepared for and protected against the adverse impacts of climate-related hazards,” said Riccardo Suppo, Head of Programme, WFP Bangladesh.
In order to lessen the effects of natural catastrophes through preventive measures, the workshop emphasized the significance of ongoing capacity-building in technical areas like multi-hazard forecasting and early warning systems, as well as collaboration between national and international organizations.
The meeting was led by K M Abdul Wadud, Additional Secretary, MoDMR. The principal guest of the workshop was Md. Mijanur Rahman, Director General, Department of Disaster Management; the special guest was Lutfun Nahar, Joint Secretary, MoDMR.
