Bangladesh
2023-12 Factsheet - Bangladesh
Highlights
The Shelter Cluster (SC) Bangladesh is a platform that enables better coordination of shelter actors. In this platform, anyone can involve, who works for shelter response, policy making, research etc. The SC Bangladesh also provides a forum to liaise with the media, the private sector, donors and other actors with a stake in the provision of humanitarian shelter. The SC Bangladesh coordinates all shelter practitioners to ensure that people who need shelter assistance receive appropriate assistance in a timely manner.
On July 2023, the coordination architecture of the cluster system under the Humanitarian Coordination Task Team (HCTT) in Bangladesh has revised. In the newly approved organizational structure, four levels of coordination, preparedness, and response are established, including disaster risk reduction.
- HCTT functions as the primary forum for joint decision-making. Its main objective is to strengthen national disaster risk management through the national cluster system.
- Humanitarian Advisory Group (HAG) to assist the Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh to reflect the views of the humanitarian community in the role of co-chair of the HCTT.
- Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) to supports and coordinates the clusters and technical working groups.
In the new structure, a total of 10 Clusters and 6 Working groups will be coordinating their respective areas. Cluster activation is required and focuses on preparedness.
The SC Bangladesh has updated the ‘Environmental Country Profile’. The SC Bangladesh Organized ‘Best Practices and Lessons Learned Workshop on Shelter Responses in Flash Flood 2022’ and Shelter Activities and Materials Exhibition. The Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials have prepared jointly with Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI). The pre-crisis survey on monsoon floods by the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) has been completed to get the people’s perceptions and risks. SC Bangladesh has formed a Technical Working Group (TWG) to conduct the pre-crisis survey and assessment. The SPHERE Standards 2018 (What is SPHERE and Shelter and Settlement) have translated into Bengali by SC Bangladesh by forming the TWG. SC Bangladesh has been activated and organizing meetings to share the shelter activities of partners and update the ongoing cluster’s activities. The SC Bangladesh conducted the Damage and Needs Assessment in Chattogram Division Flash Floods and Monsoon Rain areas jointly with Displacement Management Cluster and WASH Cluster. The SC Bangladesh has been developing the housing design based on Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) context jointly with HBRI. As well as conducing the pre-crisis data collection and assessment in Bangladesh. The Shelter Cluster Bangladesh is supporting to evacuation shelter mapping exercise in Bangladesh.
Currently the SC Bangladesh is coordinating the Chattogram Division Flash Floods and Monsoon Rain 2023.
For further information please communicate with A K M Zahirul Alam, email # coord1.bd@sheltercluster.org
Need analysis
Bangladesh is highly disaster-prone, ranking in the top ten most at-risk countries globally in 2022. Bangladesh has a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by wide seasonal variations in rainfall, temperatures, and humidity. Analysis of past disaster events between 2014 to 2020 shows that the significant climate-related hazards are floods, cyclones, landslides, and riverbank erosion. Moreover, other climate-related hazards include cold waves, heat waves, hailstorms, heavy rainfall, nor ’wasters, storm, and tornados. From 2014 – 2020 the major climate-related disasters resulted in 1,053 deaths, 4.6 million houses damaged, 9.4 million people internally displaced, and US$ 4.1 billion in economic loss. The continued of raising climate-related disasters and their consequences is increasing the risk of exposed populations. In the future, focus should be given to risk mitigation and preparedness to minimize the extent of damage.
Chattogram Division Flash Floods and Monsoon Rain response covers 53,363 people and US$213451 funds have been mobilized as of September 2023. Based on the needs the there are still needs of shelter response in both responses.
Response
Environmental Country Profile: The SC Bangladesh has developed an ‘Environmental Country Profile for Shelter Response’ that informs environmentally sustainable shelter programming by making key information about environmental considerations, impacts, concerns, and opportunities relevant to shelter and settlements programming available and accessible to SC partners. This profile covers the country-wide context and the most crucial to provide a quick basic understanding of the country-wide context and the most crucial factors that are relevant for environmentally sustainable shelter-related operations. The information in this document can serve as a baseline of environmental issues facing the country of relevance to humanitarian shelter and settlement interventions. The profile was developed with financial support from DG ECHO and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
Best Practices and Lessons Learned Workshop: Bangladesh faced a severe flash flood in 2022 and a wide range of responses was coordinated by clusters in Bangladesh. To get the best practices and lessons from the stakeholders on shelter responses, SC Bangladesh organized a workshop. A total of 79 participants from international humanitarian agencies, national and local NGOs, and different Government ministries participated in the workshop and shared their opinions and recommendations for the betterment of future responses. The honorable Secretary, of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) of the Government of Bangladesh was the chief guest of the workshop and shared the Government’s initiatives on shelter programming.
Shelter Activities and Building Materials Exhibition: Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI) under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works (MoHPW) and SC Bangladesh jointly organized the ‘Shelter Activities and Building Materials Exhibition’. HBRI, Habitat for Humanity, Caritas Bangladesh & CRS, Friendship, BDRCS & IFRC, Islamic Relief Bangladesh, Center for Natural Resource Studies, and Start Fund Bangladesh participated in the exhibition and displayed their shelter center models, house models, shelter materials, Guidelines, Modules, IEC materials, etc.
Information Education and Communication (IEC) Materials: HBRI and Shelter Cluster Bangladesh jointly developed two housing models in the geographical context of the northeastern part of Bangladesh (Flash Flood 2022 region). These environmentally friendly flood-resilient housing designs are low-cost and developed for marginalized populations. Currently, 166 housing are implemented by cluster members in Flash Flood 2022 regions.
Pre-Crisis Survey on Monsoon Flood: The Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) conducted the Pre-crisis Survey on Monsoon Floods in Bangladesh. It is an effort to understand the perception and risk of vulnerable people. it revealed the priority needs of the community and guides how the humanitarian community should relate them in their responses.
Pre-Crisis Data Collection and Assessment: SC Bangladesh is going to conduct a Pre-crisis data collection and assessment. The assessment will reveal the hazard and diversified group-specific shelter needs of people in emergencies and recovery periods. SC Bangladesh forms a Technical Working Group (TWG) on this assessment and the questionnaire being developed.
Translating the SPHERE Standards: Shelter Cluster Bangladesh has been translating the SPHERE Standards (What is SPHERE and Shelter and Settlement) by forming a Technical Working Group. The working group members are the shelter experts of the Bangladesh and working since long time. The translation work has done and after doing the field test it will be published for all stakeholders. Currently the Bangla Sphere 2018 available at the Shelter Cluster Bangladesh Website.
Damage and Needs Assessment: Shelter Cluster Bangladesh, Displacement Management Cluster and WASH Cluster are jointly assessed the Chattogram Division Monsoon Rain and Flash Flood areas to reveal the community level damage and needs. This assessment is the concerted effort of the Clusters partners.
Developing Housing Design: Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI) and the Shelter Cluster Bangladesh is going to develop the affordable housing design based on the geographical context of Chattogram Hill Tracts. Already a team from HBRI and Shelter cluster have visited the affected areas and collected necessary information to develop the housing design.
Update Terms of References (ToR): The Shelter Cluster Bangladesh updated the Terms of Reference (ToR)
Evacuation Shelter Mapping: The Government of Bangladesh and other non-governmental institutions have been investing in construction of evacuation shelter for many years and as a result there has been a marked reduction in deaths due to disasters in recent times. There are appears to be a shortage of information regarding the number, condition, capacity, GPS coordinates and other details concerning the evacuation shelters. Additionally there is a notable absence of information regarding the management protocols for these shelters. Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), the Shelter Cluster Bangladesh, IFRC, the Displacement Management Cluster, IOM, Caritas Bangladesh, CRS Bangladesh have been conducting a mapping of all official pre-designated evacuation shelters in the country. This exercise aims to address the information gap. The information, once available, will enable the Government and local Disaster Management Committees to make better risk-inform decisions during the onset of a disaster. Additionally, it will facilitate the prioritization of locales for the establishment of the next evacuation shelter
Coordinate Chattogram Division Monsoon Rain and Flash Flood 2023: The Chattogram Division has severely impacted by flash floods and monsoon rain, leaving thousands stranded without basic necessities. The floods, intensified by persistent heavy rainfall and surging water from upstream, have impacted over one million people, leading to 51 confirmed deaths. Out of the division’s 51 sub-districts, 39 were underwater, caused widespread damage in areas including Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati and Banderban. The joint assessment conducted in collaboration with the Government identified that 1.3 million people have been affected. Of these, 600,000 are in critical need. It also reported that 213,214 individuals have been displaced. Through the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) the SC Bangladesh targeted 75,000 people and US$ 3.83 Million for shelter responses.
Around 67,150 houses damaged fully or partially whereas 3,926 are fully and 63,224 are partially in Bandarban, Rangamati and Cox’s Bazar. Based on the damage and needs assessment shelter materials are highest priority of affected communities. As of December 2023, 53,362 people reached and US$ 213,451 has mobilized.
Other Works: SC Bangladesh organized five monthly meetings and six Technical Working Group (TWG) meetings as well participated in 01 HCTT meetings, 15 ICCG meetings, 01 LCG meeting and cross-cluster meetings. SC Bangladesh continued to share the information with its partners which was received from different sources related to shelter. In the same way to the betterment of the coordination SC Bangladesh has been maintaining the close coordination with Government ministries and its partners.
Gaps / challenges
SC Bangladesh has a wide range of plans for the betterment of coordination among all stakeholders including updating the shelter standards and guidelines, contextualizing shelter coordination training, and updating the Housing, Land and Property (HLP) profile of Bangladesh. However, the budget is constrained and facing challenges to accomplish those initiatives.
