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Feature Story : working for safer cities in BangladeshThere is a saying that ‘earthquakes don’t kill people, buildings do’, as the ongoing tragedy of January’s earthquake in Haiti illustrates only too well. For residents of the three largest cities in Bangladesh – the capital Dhaka, the port city of Chittagong and the north-eastern city of Sylhet – the potential impact of an earthquake is terrifyingly similar: nothing short of catastrophic.  As Bangladesh continues to record significant development progress, the
challenges of building earthquake resilient cities grows ever harder. The
continuous influx of people from rural areas, unplanned urbanisation and the
present limitations on basic service delivery linked to increasing urban
demands, are just some of the immense challenges facing the nation’s growing
urban centres. Recognising the vulnerability of cities in Bangladesh, the potential loss of life, and the enormous setbacks that a major earthquake would have for recent hard-fought development gains, UNDP with funding from the European Union, has been working with the Government of Bangladesh and city municipalities to prepare for, and reduce the impact of, earthquakes. Through the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP), a project implemented by the Bangladesh Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, a comprehensive earthquake programme has been developed. In the first phase of the Programme, the European Union contributed a total of approximately US$ 10.75 million (approximately €7.7 million), of which US$ 5.23 million (approximately € 3.83 million) was dedicated to earthquake activities. The first phase of CDMP (2004-2009) saw, for the first time in Bangladesh, the development of earthquake microzonation mapping which enables simulations that accurately identify vulnerable areas. Working with the City Corporations (local government institutions in the largest cities in Bangladesh), a digital database of essential infrastructure was created that now supports sustainable urban planning and research, and underpins the contingency planning process, linking the science, the experts and the community. In the second phase of the programme, work will commence with the City Municipalities that represent smaller urban centres. Building the capacity of first responders is another essential part of the programme. Some 12 agencies operating within the three cities have received extensive training and support through the programme. In addition, search and rescue, including fire fighting equipment has been provided to the Fire Service and Civil Defence to enhance their capacity to respond.  To reduce the devastation caused by future earthquakes in Bangladesh’s urban
centres, the second phase of CDMP will also provide training to public and
private sector stakeholders highlighting best practices in building construction
and demonstrating retrofitting techniques in, for example schools and hospitals,
that prepare for, and reduce the impact of, earthquakes.Tapping social capital is seen as fundamental in responding to large scale urban disasters. An urban volunteer network has been established and trained on search and rescue and first aid. This force, which will number 60,000, not only represents a significant response capacity, but a clear commitment to one’s own community. Perhaps one of the most important parts of the programme is awareness building: empowering communities to understand, and ultimately manage, the risks and potential impacts they face. The challenge of making Bangladesh’s cities safer, and more resilient to earthquakes, remains an ongoing process. With the continued support of the EU, UNDP together with the Government of Bangladesh has embarked on a second phase of CDMP (2010-2014). The second phase, involving UNDP with funding from the European Union, together with the UK’s Department for International Development and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, will see the earthquake programme further institutionalised, and expanded, and setting Bangladesh’s cities on a path of risk reduction and earthquake preparedness. |
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