YPSA in association with Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) organized a two-day workshop on ‘Sustainable Community Development for Disaster Risk Reduction Management in the Rohingya Camps’ to build the capacity of Rohingya youth and women leaders, at the Conference Hall, CiC Office, Camp # 19, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar on 30-31 October, 2022. A total of 30 Rohingya youths between 18-35 years of age participated in the workshop.
Mr. Jishu Barua, Program Manager of YPSA welcomed all the participants of the workshop. He shared the overview of YPSA and objectives of the workshop as well. The workshop was inaugurated by Mr. Syed Mahbubul Haque, Senior Assistant Secretary, CiC, Camp #19 In his inaugural speech, Mr. Syed Mahbubul Haque said, “Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar are prone to disasters – both manmade and natural. So, it is very much important to develop the capacity of the Rohingya community people particularly the youths. In fact, they are the first responders to any sudden emergencies—fire, cyclone, flash flood. After a hazard/emergency refugee leaders/youth seem to be the first responders before any humanitarian aid workers reach the camps.”
In his greeting speech, Mr. Md. Harun, YPSA Cox’s Bazar Focal said, “Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar are prone to disasters – both manmade and natural. The shelters in the camps are built onto the hills of Ukhiya and Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar. On the other hand, the camps are densely populated and almost all the trees have been cut down to make the shelter for more a one million Rohingyas here. Therefore, YPSA has taken initiative to organize workshop to enhance capacity of the Rohingya youths to respond to emergency situation in the camps.”
Ms. Rozina Akter, Training Coordinator of the project, said, “On behalf of YPSA, we would like to give thanks to the camp administration particularly CiC sir for providing us with all the supports that we needed to organize the workshop. We hope that this workshop will contribute to the capacity building of the participants to respond to disaster situation in the camps.”
An expert pool of trainers of YPSA as well as of Fire Service and Civil Defense Department of Bangladesh facilitated the sessions of the workshop. The contents of the workshop included Concept of Disaster Cycle and Initiatives, Forecast of Disaster and Flagging/Warning System, Fire Incidents & Fire Safety and Initiatives, Disaster Management Act 2012 (of Bangladesh), Humanitarian Principles, Inclusive Disaster Risk Management and Gender, Preparation and Mitigation of Disaster, Needs Assessment/Vulnerability (Group Work), Emergency Response, Cautioning/Warning Phases, During and Post Disaster Period Actions, Volunteerism etc. The method of facilitation consisted of lecture, role play, group work, demonstration, fire drill. Sessions of the workshop were conducted in the Rohingya dialect and English as the participating Rohingya youths are used to communication both the languages.
On the second day of the workshop, there was practical session facilitated by the Personnel of Cox’s Bazar and Ukhiya Fire Service and Civil Defense Department. They explained on how to response to any emergency situation particularly Fire Incidents. They shared the techniques on how to extinguish fire instantly. The instructor of Cox’s Bazar Fire Service, Mr. Monayem Billah made an informative PowerPoint presentation to describe the issues including reasons and source of Fire Incidents, Fire Extinguishing and techniques of fire extinguishing. They conducted a Fire Drill in which participants paratactically learned on how to extinguish fire and what materials should be used to extinguish fire.
At the end of the workshop, emergency kits were distributed among the participants.
Ms. Jisma Akter, one of the female participants of the workshop said, “As the training was conducted in both Rohingya dialect and English, it was easy for us to understand the sessions. Learning of workshop will come to our help. I think that the such workshops should be organizes more and more in the camps. Youths should know about DRR and how to response to disaster in the camps”
Mr. Mohammad Forkhad, a male participant of the workshop said, “This workshop should be organized in every camp. If such workshop on DRR and Fire Drill could be organized in every camp, it will be very easy for the camp people to respond to any disasters at the camp level. The best part of the workshop I have liked most is how to instantly extinguish fire which I really did not know before. I have learned many things about DRR and how to serve people in the emergency situations in the two-day long workshop.”
In the project closing program, Mr. Syed Mahbubul Haque, Senior Assistant Secretary, CiC, Camp-19, said, “The camps are very much disaster prone, the capacity of Rohingyas need to enhance to respond to disaster situation. I strongly recommend YPSA to organize more training and increase participant number as well. We do thank YPSA to organize the workshop in the camp”
