An update on the CCDB Cyclone Shelters
After the devastating cyclone of 1991, CCDB constructed 44 cyclone shelters: 10
in the coastal areas of Cox Bazar District and 34 in the Moheskhali islands.
The main objective of this program was to create permanent life-saving shelters
for the most vulnerable and exposed communities who had lost most of their
belongings and even their nearest and dearest ones. Furthermore, the programs
have helped develop community-based disaster-preparedness for the affected
people of the coastal areas. From its very inception the program aimed to ensure
people’s participation and ownership.
The community donated lands for construction of the cyclone shelters. CCDB
planned them in consultation with the community and very near to villages so that
at least 250 families could take refuge in each shelter during the cyclone. CCDB
also formed two groups of volunteers for each shelter, trained them and gave
them responsibility for disseminating their learning among the community.
In 1994 and 1997 two serious cyclone hits Cox Bazar & Moheskhali areas.
Approximate 70,000 people used the cyclone shelters. Government, International
NGOs and National NGOs had also built cyclone shelters and as a result the
causalities were very much less than in 1991.
When the project period was over, CCDB handed the shelters to the local
government and the communities.
Presently, CCDB does not have any ongoing program activities at Cox Bazar or
Moheskhali. On behalf of CCDB, its Disaster Preparedness Program keeps
contact with the local government of those areas.
The cyclone shelters often serve other purposes during times when there is no
emergency. In Moheskhali 9 they are being used as primary and technical
schools! Local NGOs, local government and tribal communities are using six
shelters. Six cyclone shelters are also used as pre-schools and one shelter is
use by the local government..
The local communities are looking after the rest of the cyclone shelters.
CCDB and Arsenic
Introduction:
The Department of Public Health Engineering first detected arsenic poisoning in
Bangladesh in 1993, but it remained undisclosed till 1996. According to a survey
conducted by both government and non-government agencies, it was identified
that at least 61 out of the total 64 districts of Bangladesh were affected with
various degrees of arsenic pollution. Bangladesh is a country of 140 million, of
which about 70 million people are living under the high risk of arsenic poisoning
as the vast floodplains of the delta region is contaminated with arsenic.
The arsenic pollution is not only causing serious health hazards to the people but
also affecting the environment and creating social problems. The rural population
in the affected areas thus became easy prey to arsenic poisoning, as their
principal source of drinking water is tube-well. In many areas people do not want
to have any social contact with arsenicosis patients. No effective cure for
Arsenicosis has been found as yet, but if detected at the initial stage the
condition can be halted by stopping drinking arsenic contaminated water.
Chapainawabgonj, Pabna and Iswardi project areas are the most arsenic
Contaminated zone among CCDBs working areas. As many tube wells are not
yet tested or retested, thousands of people still drink water from many of the
arsenic contaminated tube wells.
Many of the arsenicosis patient still do not have idea that they can improve their
condition if they stop drinking arsenic contaminated water and take proper
treatment.
Activities:
Testing of tube wells: A total of 22,948 tube wells were tested and out of those
5,305 tube wells were found to be arsenic contaminated. CCDB put a red mark
on the contaminated tube wells and a green mark on the non-contaminated tube
wells. The people do not drink the arsenic contaminated water from those red
marked tube wells. Under this program a number of tested tube wells were
retested after one year to recheck the situation.
Training of volunteers: A total of 153 animators/volunteers and 5 nurses were
trained in arsenic mitigation. The trained volunteers tested tube wells and then
made sure the community knew the results of the testing.
Installation of deep handset tube wells and dug wells: A total of 25 dug wells
and 10 deep handset tube wells were installed to get arsenic-free water. Both
shallower ‘dug’ wells and deeper tube wells can help avoid heavy contamination.
An average of 20 families get arsenic free water from each dug well and tube
well.
Treatment of Arsenicosis Patient: A total of 150 arsenicosis patient get
treatment from CCDB’s clinic. The trained volunteers identify those affected by
arsenic and take care of them. Severly affected patients were referred to
government hospitals.
Distribution of Testing Kit Box, Gloves and Aprons: The selected Village
workers were provided with gloves, aprons and testing kits. Those items were
provided as one-time grants to act as their self-employment fund.