NDMP v.

Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh

National Disaster Management Policy

Disaster Management Bureau Ministry of Food and Disaster Management January 2008

Table of Contents
1. Introduction.............................................................................................................. 3 2. Bangladesh Mission, Vision and Objectives............................................................ 4 3. Purpose and objectives of the Policy ...................................................................... 4 4. Strategic Goals of the Policy.................................................................................... 5 5. Disaster Development Linkages.............................................................................. 5 6. Principles for Disaster Management........................................................................ 6 7. Disaster Management Systems in Bangladesh ...................................................... 7 8. Disaster Management Regulative Framework: a. Disaster Management Act............................................................................ 8 b. National Disaster Management Policy.......................................................... 8 c. Disaster Management Plans......................................................................... 8 d. Standing Orders on Disaster......................................................................... 8 e. Guidelines for Government at all Levels (Best Practice Models).................. 9 9. Priorities and activities under different strategic goal.............................................. 10 10. Policy Direction ....................................................................................................... 14 11. Financial Arrangements.......................................................................................... 14 12. Implementation of national Policy............................................................................ 14 13. Government Authorization ....................................................................................... 14

1. Introduction Bangladesh is a low-lying deltaic country situated in between 20034' and 26038' latitude and between 88001' and 92041 east longitude and formed by the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna rivers. The geographical location, land characteristics, multiplicity of rivers and the monsoon climate render Bangladesh highly vulnerable to natural hazards such as floods, cyclones, droughts, tidal surges, tornadoes, cold waves, earthquakes, river erosion, fire, drainage congestion/ water logging, infrastructure collapse, the high arsenic contents of ground water, water and soil salinity, epidemic, and various forms of pollution. Significant country features are: A vast network of rivers and channels An enormous discharge of water heavily laden with sediments A large number of islands in between the channels A shallow northern Bay of Bengal and funnelling to the coastal area of Bangladesh and Strong tidal and wind action

Floods are annual phenomena with the most severe occurring during the months of July and August. Regular river floods affect 20% of the country increasing up to 68% in extreme years. The floods of 1988, 1998, 2004 and 2007 were particularly catastrophic, resulting in large-scale destruction and loss of lives. The country is one of the worst sufferers of all Tropical cyclones from the Bay of Bengal accompanied by storm surges in the world. On average 1.3 cyclones per annum hits Bangladesh coast. The worst affecting cyclones were the 1970 and 1991 causing death of about 438,882 people (BMD, 2007). Annually, the country losses about 8,700 hectres of land due to river erosion displacing around 180-200 thousands of people. Bangladesh remains in the list of one of the seismically active regions of the world although there were no large scale earthquakes experienced in the last hundred years Climate change adds a new dimension to community risks and vulnerabilities. Although the magnitude of these changes may appear to be small, they could substantially increase the frequency and intensity of existing climatic events (floods, droughts, cyclones etc). Current indications are that not only will floods and cyclones become more severe, they will also start to occur outside of their established seasons. Events, such as drought, may not have previously occurred in some areas and may now be experienced. The damages by and impacts of flood is huge 1987 floods loss - US$ 1,000 million 1988 floods loss - US$ 1,200 million, 1,517 killed, livestock 350 thousand 1998 floods loss - US$ 2,800 million, <1,000 killed, livestock 26,564, embankment damage 4,500 km. road damage 16,000 km, crop damage 500 thousand ha. 2004 floods loss - US$ 2 billion, >500 killed, embankment damage 2,500 km affected people 35 million 2007 floods loss US$ 1.16 billion, 639 killed, livestock 2590, embankment fully damaged 261 km, partially damaged 1814 km.

1970 Cyclone 300,000 dead 1991 Cyclone 138,868 dead 1997 Cyclone 550 dead 2007 Cyclone 3363, missing 871, people affected 8,545,470. Houses Damaged: 1449157, Crops Damaged: 2,077,228 acre, Trees Destroyed: 4,065,316

2. Bangladesh Disaster Management Mission, Vision and Objectives The Disaster Management Vision of the Government of Bangladesh is to reduce the risk of people, especially the poor and the disadvantaged, from the effects of natural, environmental and human induced hazards, to a manageable and acceptable humanitarian level, and to have in place an efficient emergency response system capable of handling large scale disasters. The Mission is to bring a paradigm shift in disaster management from conventional response and relief practice to a more comprehensive risk reduction culture The Overall Objective is to strengthen the capacity of the Bangladesh disaster management system to reduce unacceptable risk and improve response and recovery management at all levels 3. Purpose and objectives of the Policy The National Disaster Management Policy defines the national policy on disaster risk reduction and emergency response management, and describes the strategic policy framework, and national principles of disaster management in Bangladesh. The overall national objectives in this regard are - to reduce the underlying risks by o integrating disaster risk reduction approaches and climate change adaptation in all ongoing and future development plans, programmes and policies o Enhancing professional skills and knowledge of key personnel on risk reduction, preparedness, warning and forecasting system, climate change risk reduction and post-disaster activities o Strengthening mechanisms to build capacities for the Community and Institutions at all levels o Community based Programming for risk reduction o Promote and facilitate the incorporation of longer term disaster risk reduction due to climate change into disaster management o Promote livelihood strategies and options for poor that incorporates disaster management and risk reduction practices o Strengthen capacities for risk assessment for flood, cyclone, drought, river bank erosion, pest attacks, earthquake, epidemics , including assessment of climate change risk to establish and strengthen the systems and procedures for effective response management through o o Creating a legal and institutional framework for effective response management Strengthening national capacity for response management with emphasis on preparedness and support to disaster management committees at district, upazila and union levels Improving the early warning and community alerting system Strengthening search and rescue capabilities of relevant agencies Introducing an effective response management coordination mechanism including a relief management logistic system to handle different levels of emergency response Establishing an electronic based information management system

o o o

4.

Strategic Goals of the Policy

The strategic goals of the policy are drawn from the SAARC Disaster Management Framework GOAL 1: PROFESSIONALISING THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM GOAL 2: MAINSTREAMING RISK REDUCTION GOAL3: STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS GOAL 4: EMPOWERING AT RISK COMMUNITIES GOAL 5: EXPANDING RISK REDUCTION PROGRAMMING GOAL 6: STRENGTHENING EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS GOAL 7: DEVELOPING AND STRENGTHENING NETWORKS

5.

Disaster Development Linkages

Although Bangladesh made commendable success in social development indicators namely maternal and child health, water and sanitation and education, the rate of poverty reduction is only 0.5-1% per annum. Natural hazard impacts that result in a disaster situation are the primary causes and results of the slow rate of poverty reduction. Between 1991 and 2007, 95 major disasters were recorded in Bangladesh, resulting in nearly 200,000 deaths and causing an estimated US $ 5.9 billion in damages. The highest losses were felt in the agriculture and infrastructure sectors which are the two major contributors to economic growth and GDP. According to the World Bank interim report the most recent floods had a major bearing on the country Balance of Payments and will result in large amounts of future development funds being channeled into reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. About 75% of all disasters are originated by weather-climate extremes and because of global warming and climate change Bangladesh has already experienced some significant impacts especially in terms of coastal inundation and erosion, saline intrusion, deforestation, loss of bio-diversity and agriculture, and large scale migration, It is estimated that about 830,000 million hectares of arable land is affected by varying degrees of soil salinity. During the period 19731987 about 2.18 million tons of rice was damaged due to drought and 2.38 million tons due to flood. Drought affects annually about 2.32 million hectares and 1.2 million hectares of cropped land during the Kharif (summer) (November to June) and Rabi (winter) (July to October) seasons respectively, while soil salinity, water logging and acidification affect 3.05 million hectares, 0.7 million hectares and 0.6 million hectare of crop land, respectively in the country. In addition to crop losses, Bangladesh is experiencing other adverse impacts of global warming and climate change with summers becoming hotter, monsoon becoming irregular, untimely rainfall, heavy rainfall over short period causing water logging and landslides, very little rainfall in dry period, increased river flow and inundation during monsoon, increased frequency, intensity and recurrence of floods, crop damage due to flash floods and monsoon floods, crop failure due to drought, prolonged cold spell, salinity intrusion along the coast leading to scarcity of potable water and redundancy of prevailing crop practices, coastal erosion, riverbank erosion, deaths due to extreme heat and extreme cold, increasing mortality, morbidity, prevalence and outbreak of dengue, malaria, cholera and diarrhea. All of these impacts either independently or collectively are adding significant stress to our physical and environmental resources, our human ability, and economic activities. The OECD and the World Bank estimate that 40% of overseas development assistance to Bangladesh may be climate sensitive or at risk owing to the impact of natural hazards such as floods. Additionally, funding for humanitarian response to disasters (majority of which are climate related), which now cost the government and development partners millions of dollars per year, may result in the reallocation of funding from on-going development activities. This can set back the development process for decades. PRSP made a reference

to make the changing risk profiles and stronger mitigation demands as an integral part of Bangladesh poverty reduction strategy. The challenges here as mentioned in PRSP is to include profiling of risks, both old and new, careful balancing of needs and expectations, streamlining implementation and exploring net-and ladder options in programme design.

6.

Principles for Disaster Management

Disaster management is the responsibility of all sectors, all organisations and all agencies that may be potentially affected by a disaster. The key principles consistent with internationally accepted best practices that will guide the development and implementation of the DM policy in Bangladesh are designed to provide guidance during all phases of disaster management and are as follows: a) Bangladesh recognizes that disasters can either be human induced, natural or even arising out of technological causes. The DM policy is to provide guidance, plan and prepare for all types of hazards and disasters. b) Disaster risk reduction should be an integral element of every national and sectoral policies at all levels to sub-serve the overall goal relating to economic and social development. Hence, policies on sustainable development should seek to reduce possible losses from disasters, as a matter of course. c) Risk is dynamic and always changing. Hence both scientific and community analysis is essential for defining and redefining risks. Risk analysis must be comprehensive and follow all hazards, all sector and all risk approach. Need to consider both existing and future risks including climate change impacts analysis. d) Effective response must be designed utilizing risk information and revised through lessons learned e) Bangladesh DM Policy will be an ongoing and continuous activity to be reviewed and revised within a certain interval. f) Disaster management activities in Bangladesh will be designed around a DM Model comprising of 2 elements namely Risk Reduction and Emergency Response Management. The formar again divided into two elements:Defining and redefining the risk environment and Managing the risk environment.

g) Disaster Management in Bangladesh will be guided by national and international drivers such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, Hyogo Framework for Action, SAARC Framework for Comprehensive Disaster Management, Millenium Development Goals, UNFCCC and so on. h) Mainstreaming risk reduction efforts within government, NGOs and private sector is viewed as being the key to achieving sustainable all hazards risk reduction interventions across the whole country. i) Disaster Management in Bangladesh will be enriched through applied research and knowledge management. Hence efforts will be made to strengthen research capability and institutionalize knowledge management across academia. Women, children, elderly, the disable and other socially marginalized groups will be primary beneficiaries of all disaster management efforts.

j)

7. Disaster management system in Bangladesh - The Government of Bangladesh through the Standing Orders on Disaster issued in January 1997 created a well-defined disaster management institutional mechanism. The Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM) of the Government of Bangladesh is overall responsible for coordinating national disaster management efforts across all agencies. Under SoD a series of inter-related committees, at both national and sub-national levels have been created to ensure effective planning and coordination of disaster risk reduction and emergency response management at all levels. At the national level i. National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) headed by the Hon'ble Prime Minister to formulate and review the disaster management policies and issue directives to all concerns.

ii. Inter-Ministerial Disaster Management Co-ordination Committee (IMDMCC) headed by the Hon'ble Minister in charge of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM) to implement disaster management policies and decisions of NDMC / Government. iii. National Disaster Management Advisory Committee (NDMAC) headed by an experienced person having been nominated by the Hon'ble Prime Minister. iv. Cyclone Preparedness Program Implementation Board (CPPIB) headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Food and Disaster Management to review the preparedness activities in the face of initial stage of an impending cyclone. v. Disaster Management Training and Public Awareness Building Task Force (DMTATF) headed by the Director General of Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) to co-ordinate the disaster related training and public awareness activities of the Government, NGOs and other organizations. vi. Focal Point Operation Coordination Group of Disaster Management (FPOCG) headed by the Director General of DMB to review and co-ordinate the activities of various departments/agencies related to disaster management and also to review the Contingency Plan prepared by concerned departments. vii. NGO Coordination Committee on Disaster Management (NGOCC) headed by the Director General of DMB to review and co-ordinate the activities of concerned NGOs in the country.

viii. Committee for Speedy Dissemination of Disaster Related Warning/ Signals (CSDDWS) headed by the Director General of DMB to examine, ensure and find out the ways and means for the speedy dissemination of warning/ signals among the people. At sub-national levels i. District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) headed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to co-ordinate and review the disaster management activities at the district level.

ii. Upazila Disaster Management Committee (UZDMC) headed by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) to co-ordinate and review the disaster management activities at the Upazila level. iii. Union Disaster Management Committee (UDMC) headed by the Chairman of the Union Parishad to co-ordinate, review and implement the disaster management activities of the concerned union.

iv. Pourashava Disaster Management Committee (PDMC) headed by Chairman of Pourashava (municipality) to co-ordinate, review and implement the disaster management activities within its area of jurisdiction. v. City Corporation Disaster Management Committee (CCDMC) headed by the Mayor of City Corporations to co-ordinate, review and implement the disaster management activities within its area of jurisdiction. Besides the above, committees included in the SOD and any other committees formed by the government from time to time will be part of disaster management institutional mechanism. 8. Disaster management regulative framework - Bangladeshs regulative framework for disaster management provides for the relevant legislative, policy and best practice framework under which the activity of Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management in Bangladesh is managed and implemented. The framework includes: 8.1. Disaster Management Act The Bangladesh Disaster Management Act forms the legislative basis for the protection of life and property and to manage long term risks from the effect of hazards both natural, technological and human induced, and to respond to and recover from a disaster event. It aimed at a) Helping communities to: (i) mitigate the potential adverse effects of hazard events, (ii) prepare for managing the effects of a disaster event, (iii) effectively respond to and recover from a disaster or an emergency situation, and (iv) adapt to adverse effects of climate change. b) Providing for effective disaster management for Bangladesh. c) Establishing an institutional framework for disaster management. d) Establishing risk reduction as a core element of disaster management. 8.3. Disaster Management Plans The Bangladesh National Plan for Disaster Management shall provide the overall guideline for the relevant sectors and the disaster management committees at all levels to prepare and implement their area of roles specific plans. The plan identifies the key sectoral policy agenda for disaster management. Additionally, there will be a few hazard specific management plans, such as Flood Management Plan, Cyclone and Storm Surge and Tsunami Management Plan, Earthquake Management Plan, Drought Management Plan, River Erosion Management Plan, etc. Moreover, there will be a detailed Disaster Management Plan for each District, Upazila, Union and Paurashava and City Corporation of the country. A District Disaster Management Plan will be the compilation of the Upa-zila Disaster Management Plans of the district. Similarly a Upa-zila Disaster Management Plan will be the compilation of the union disaster management plans of that Upazila prepared by the Union DMCs. So DMCs at Union and Paurashava levels will be mainly responsible for conducting the risk assessments and prepare the ground level plans. Once developed those will be sent to the DMCs at one level higher Upazila DMCs, whose role will be to verify and compile the union plans and identify the resource requirements for the Upazila. Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM) will be overall responsible to provide the guidance for disaster risk reduction and emergency management planning. 8.4. Standing Orders on Disaster The Standing Orders on Disaster provides a detailed institutional framework for disaster risk reduction and emergency management. It outlines detailed roles and responsibilities of Ministries, divisions, departments, various committees at different levels, and other organizations involved in disaster risk reduction and emergency management.

8.5. Guidelines for Government at all Levels (Best Practice Models) The National Plan for Disaster Management makes a reference to develop the following guidelines for Government at all levels to assist Ministries, NGOs, disaster management committees and civil society in implementing disaster risk management o Disaster Impact and Risk Assessment Guideline o Local Disaster Risk Reduction Fund Management Guidelines o Emergency Fund Management Guidelines o Indigenous Coping Mechanism Guidebook o Community Risk Assessment Guidelines o Damage and Needs Assessment Methodology o Hazard Specific Risk Assessment Guidelines o Emergency Response and Information Management Guideline o Contingency Planning Template o Sectoral Disaster Risk Reduction Planning Template o Local Level Planning Template o National Risk Reduction Fund Management Guideline o National Disaster Reduction and Emergency Fund Management Guideline o Local Disaster Management Fund Guideline o Guideline for road and water safety o Guideline for industrial safety o Guideline for Disaster Shelter Management o Monitoring and Evaluation Guideline for the Implementation of the Plan o Guideline for international Assistance in disaster emergency

9. Priorities and activities under different strategic goal

Priority Goal-wise activities of key targets and their implementation mechanism is presented below
Key targets/priorities 1 2 Establish a Disaster Management Regulative Framework that makes disaster risk reduction and emergency response management a mandatory requirement for all Ministries, Divisions, Departments and other bodies at all levels. Activities 3 Enactment of DM Act Review and revision of SoD, MoFDMs Allocation of Business,, etc. Develop, approve and implement National Plan for Disaster Management, National Disaster Management Policy and other Plans Establish a national DM training policy for professional development Make mandatory disaster management education in all public training programmes Introduce disaster management education in universities Develop Disaster Risk Identification and Mitigation Options (DRIMO) tool for all sectors and facilitate the approval process of Development and technical projects Include DRIMO as a mandatory element for all public and private sector investment and development projects and programmes Introduce block allocation in the development project proposal against foreseen and unforeseen risk reduction activities Establish a monitoring mechanism to ensure that the development projects and programmes do not create new risks Review and revise the relevant sectoral policies by incorporating disaster risk reduction issues Establish Focal Points with relevant ministries and departments For NGO mainstreaming include DRR issues in the FD 6 Format Design and implement an advocacy programme for mainstreaming DRR into NGO programmes Design and implement a capacity building programme for the DMCs on their roles and responsibilities related to disaster risk reduction and emergency response management Lead Agency /dept. 4 MoFDM Supporting Agency/ dept. 5 Ministry of Establishment /Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs/ Cabinet Division/ Sectoral Ministries

Professionalizing the Disaster Management System

Establish and progressively implement a learning and development strategy to facilitate the professional development of MoFDM and key personnel from government, NGOs and the private sector.

MoFDM

Ministry of Establishment (MoEstt)

Training institutes, Ministry of Education (MoEd), Academic Institutions;

Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction issues in all national and sectoral policies and plans

Ministry of Finance and Planning

Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction

Relevant Ministries NGO Affairs Bureau

MoFDM/ Planning Commission/ Ministry of Environment and Forest/ Ministry of Water Resources/ Ministry of Agriculture/ NGO Affairs Bureau/ / Sectoral Ministries/NGOs, Private Sector bodies Development Partners MoFDM Relevant Ministries MoFDM NGOs

Strengthening Institutional

Capacity Building of DMCs at all levels

MoFDM

Ministry of Establishment /Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs/ Cabinet Division/ Sectoral Ministries/ NGOs/ Development Partners/

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Key targets/priorities 1 2

Activities 3 Establish a contingency planning framework Establish a Local level Disaster Management Contributory Fund with contribution from government and the private sector.

Lead Agency /dept. 4

Supporting Agency/ dept. 5

Create a national training capacity to sustain and progressively expand the disaster management training efforts.

Establish a national disaster management training policy and strategy framework

Establish a disaster risk reduction action planning framework Develop and establish a standard assessment procedure to identify community and household level risks Prepare union, upazila and district level risk reduction plans for all hazards, all risks and all sectors Develop strategy to ensure implementation of the different level risk reduction plans produced Design and implement -livelihood support programmes for at risk communities -community and household level awareness program on comprehensive disaster management Establish an effective targeting mechanism Make provision of block allocation for safety net programmes in the annual revenue budget Conduct Hazards Risk Analysis and produce updated hazards maps Determine climate change and climate variability impacts for Bangladesh Establish system to generate, regularly update and disseminate micro and macro impacts of climate change and the adaptation options to climate change Incorporate climate change and climate variability impact information in the disaster Risk reduction programmes design Improve understanding on

MoFDM MoLG&RD, MoED, MoPME, MoRA, Bangladesh Scouts, MoHA Relevant Ministries MoFDM MoFDM

Ministry of Finance and Planning; Ministry of Establishment Ministry of Finance and Planning; Ministry of Establishment MoFDM

Relevant ministries/ NGOs/ Development Partners MoWR, MoF, Other Relevant Ministries

Empowering At Risk Communities.

Strengthen community and household level capacity to withstand the disastrous situations

MoFDM

Other Relevant Ministries, NGOs

Reduce vulnerability of the at risk communities through social safety nets

MoFDM

Other Relevant Ministries, NGOs

Expanding Risk Reduction Programming across hazards and sectors

Across Hazards: Update hazard maps such as flood, cyclone, drought, earthquake and tsunami Establish an Integrated Approach to disaster management including Climate Change and climate variability impacts

MoFDM

MoEF

Ministry of Defence/ MoWR/Ministry of Science and Technology/ NGOs / Development Partners MoFDM Ministry of Defence/ Technological Universities/ MoWR/ NGOs/ Development Partners

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Key targets/priorities 1 2

Activities 3 climate change impacts among the DM stakeholders

Lead Agency /dept. 4

Supporting Agency/ dept. 5

Develop and implement a cyclone risk reduction programme

Preparedness for Earthquake and Tsunami risks Strengthen national capability to reduce the risks of Chemical and technological hazards Biological hazards Infrastructure collapse Fire Road accidents Launch capsize Landslide River Erosion

Review, revise and improve early warning generation capacity for tropical cyclone Review, revise and improve early warning dissemination system for tropical cyclone Expanding operation of the Cyclone Preparedness Programme Conduct needs assessment for cyclone shelters across the coastal belt Standardise cyclone shelter design Develop storm surge inundation map for the coastal belt Develop and implement a strategy to protect the coastal areas through construction of embankment Develop and implement a strategy to reduce the cyclone impacts through an appropriate afforestation programme Develop and implement awareness progranme for effective cyclone preparedness Conduct Earthquake and Tsunami Risks Assessments for mega cities and coastal districts Introduce contingency planning in city corporation response plan Update and ensure compliance of the Bangladesh National Building Code Develop and implement earthquake risk reduction and preparedness plan Strengthen search and rescue capabilities of first responding institutions Develop a standard guideline to prepare hazard specific risk reduction plans Prepare and implement hazard specific risk reduction plans

MoD MoFDM MoFDM MoFDM MoFDM MoWR MoWR

MoFDM AFD MoD, BDRCS BDRCS, MoF MoWR, MoHPW MoHPW, LGD, MoPME, MoEd MoFDM, MoD Relevant ministries

MoEF

Relevant ministries

MoFDM MoFDM Relevant ministries

MoI Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; Ministry of Home Affairs; Armed Forces Division; Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Ministry of Science and Technology; Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Communication; Ministry of Education; Academic Institutions; MoFDM

Ministry of Industries MoHA Ministry of Communication, Ministry of Water Transport, MoS&T MoH&FP MoL&F MoEF

MoFDM Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; Ministry of Home Affairs; Armed Forces Division; Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Communication; Academic Institutions; Ministry of Land, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperative, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Academic and Research Organizations

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Key targets/priorities 1 2 Across Sectors: Review relevant national policies, develop and establish policy and planning frameworks to incorporate all hazard risk reduction perspectives into sectoral policies and development plans, such as: Agriculture, livestock and fishery industry education (primary, secondary and Madrasha) rural and urban housing, construction of roads, bridges and culverts water transportation Health Water resources Power, energy and mineral resources Environment and forestry Science and Technology Tele-communication Water Supply and Sanitation Food Security Land Use

Activities 3 Develop guidelines and templates for inclusion of DRR in sectoral policies and plans Adopt community risk assessment procedure to identify hazards related risks and vulnerabilities to the sector Introduce DRIMO in all development projects Increase allocation for adaptation research to identify technologies suitable to cope with future risks including climate change impacts Establish a National Technical Advisory committee to seek guidance and support to measure the type and extent and areas of risks, formulate strategies and recommendations to be undertaken to reduce identified risks in the sectors. Take multi-sectoral initiatives to prevent human induced risks in the sector. Ensure government support including provision of block allocation in the annual development plan to deal with emergencies and for the early recovery of the sector. Keep provision of emergency funds in the budget of all relevant development projects Establish a monitoring mechanism to ensure that the development projects and programmes do not create new risks Technical, technological and physical capacity strengthening of Bangladesh Metereological Department (BMD) and Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) Establish and strengthen regional networks for real time data/information sharing

Lead Agency /dept. 4 MoFDM Relevant Ministries

Supporting Agency/ dept. 5 Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Ministry of Science and Technology; Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Ministry of Defence; Armed Forces Division; Ministry of Communication; Ministry of Education; Academic Institutions; Relevant ministries

Strengthen and improve an all Hazard Early Warning Systems Strengthening Emergency Response Systems

MoFDM/ Ministry of Defence/ MoWR

Armed Forces Division; Ministry of Post and Telecommunication; MoHA; MoFA; SMRC; NGOs Development Partners

Establish and operate a National Disaster Management Information Centre to archive and share disaster risk reduction information to produce and share policy briefs to receive and disseminate early warning information to receive and disseminate information on emergency need assessments and management

Connect through internet network all the district DRROs and high risk Upazila PIOs Design and share need based information products through the established network

MoFDM

Ministry of Defence; Armed Forces Division; MoWR; NGOs; Development Partners

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Key targets/priorities 1 2 Establish an effective Community Alerting System

Activities 3 Strengthen the capacity of Cyclone Preparedness Programme and DMCs at District, Upazila and Union levels Organize regular drills Prepare a potential search and rescue scenario Strengthen Search and Rescue capability of first responding institutions by providing training and equipments support Establish an all hazard volunteer groups for Search and Rescue operations Establish an effective command and control system Develop and establish emergency response plan for all hazards at all levels Establish an inter-agency coordination mechanism for emergency response Develop and implement a standard relief management procedure Develop and regularly update district and upazila level response plans by DMCs Establish a standard sector specific damage and loss assessment methodology Incorporate disaster risk reduction measures into post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation processes

Lead Agency /dept. 4 MoFDM

Supporting Agency/ dept. 5 MoWR/ MoD/ NGOs/ BDRCS

Establish and improve Search and Rescue Mechanism

MoHA/ Armed Forces Division/ Local Government Bodies/ MoHA MoFDM BDRCS BS MoHA LGD MoFDM MoFDM

MoH&PW/MoLG&RD/ MoD/ MoPE&MR/ / NGOs

Develop and establish emergency response plans

Relevant ministries, Armed Forces Division; NGOs, development partners, CBOs and the Private sector

Develop and establish post disaster recovery and reconstruction mechanism

MoFDM Relevant Ministries

Relevant Sectoral Ministries and departments; Armed Forces Division

10. Policy Direction The overall responsibility for policy direction and co-ordination shall rest with the InterMinisterial Disaster Management Coordination Committee as set out in the Standing Orders on Disasters. 11. Financial Arrangements For response and recovery Government will constitute a fund called the National Disaster Response and Recovery Fund from its own resources and donations from home and abroad. The allocation and utilization of the fund shall be governed as per rules and guidelines laid down by the Government. Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, in consultation with Ministry of Finance, will take initiative to establish the fund by consolidating the existing relief funds. For risk reduction Government will constitute another fund called the National Risk Reduction Fund for projects which are designed for the purpose of prevention, mitigation and preparedness. The allocation and utilization of the fund shall be governed as per rules

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and guidelines laid down by the Government. Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, in consultation with Ministry of Finance, will take initiative to establish the fund by consolidating the existing risk reduction funds. Relevant Ministries/ Divisions/ Directorates and departments will make provisions in its annual budget to fund the activities and programmes set out in the Disaster Risk Reduction component of its Sectoral Development Plans. Disaster Management Committees at the district, upazila, union, city corporation and paurashava levels will constitute its Disaster Management Fund to implement programmes and activities as set out in Disaster Management Plans. This fund will make up of the following: a) contribution from the government, b) contribution from local government and c) local donation. The government will formulate guideline for operating the fund. 12. Implementation of National Policy Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) in association with the Directorate of relief and rehabilitation will facilitate implementation of the Bangladesh DM policy under the administrative control of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management. DMB will prepare and submit status report to NDMC through IMDMCC on an annual basis.

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