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Tropical storm Roanu made landfall in the southern coastal region of Bangladesh on 21st May 2016. The storm brought heavy rain, winds of over 100km/h, and storm surges peaking at 2.7 metres. Eighteen (18) coastal districts were affected and among them Kutubdia has been affected severely compare to other areas due to its geo-locations and vulnerably. About 8,500 Households (out of 25,936 HHs) are badly affected with devastating damages in livelihoods and shelter (JNA findings). Six out of nine Unions were affected but three unions (Uttar Dhurang, Ali Akbor and Koyerbill) were worst affected. Moreover, continuous monsoon rain is adding sufferings to their existing sufferings. Being inspiring YPSA has been working since 25th May ’16 in Kutubdia with the support of Concern Worldwide Bangladesh. YPSA is providing with 4000 BDT cash and Hygiene kits around 800 BDT per HHs to 1597 HHs through the financial support of START FUND-DFID.
Title of the project: Emergency Assistance to Cyclone ROANU Affected Communities in Southern Coastal of Bangladesh
Project goal:
The overall goal is to ensure that people severely affected by Cyclone Roanu receive timely and appropriate multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance to recover from their existing situation
Major Achievement:
- Staff Orientation: On May 29th, 2016, in collaboration with Concern Worldwide, YPSA organized a day long staff orientation workshop on Emergency Assistance to Cyclone ROANU Affected Communities in Southern Coastal of Bangladesh at YPSA head office, Chittagong. The inaugural session started with the welcome speech and workshop objective by the project manager of YPSA, Noor Mohammad. The orientation session started with presenting YPSA and Concern Worldwide’s vision and mission by YPSA’s project focal & Director (SDP) Md. Mahabubur Rahman, Director (Finance) 0f YPSA Palash Chowdhury and Field Coordinator of CWW, Nazrul Islam Bulbul and followed by project background, consortium approach and activities of the project.
In the technical session, the participants developed a clear understanding on the criteria of selecting the beneficiaries which involved several steps for the selection; such as- community consultation meeting, household survey and a discuss on identifying people with disabilities. In addition to that, the workshop also allowed to form groups with potential youths for extensive field work required for implementing the project. The workshop concluded with the speech by the project manager by YPSA. He looked forward to coordination from the participants and welcomed everyone to contribute on ROANU RESPONSE project 2016.
- Upazila level inception Meeting was completed: The Upazila level meeting was organized through the UNO and as per invitation on 1st 016, with 38 participants all different sectoral Heads and relevant stakeholders were invited and have attended the events and most importantly, all have given commitment to support the project so that this can really serve the people as per project objective. Moreover, all these stakeholders also felt that this is their responsibility to serve these cyclone ROANU affected poorest and vulnerable people.
In the inaugural session, Salehin Tanvir Gazi, UNO of Kutubdia was present as chief guest; Sayeda Meherunnesa, Upazila Vice Chairman was present as special guest where also different governments officials, NGO officials, Journalists, local government bodies and elite persons are attended in the meeting. YPSA project manager have facilitated the Upazila level meetings. The Concern Worldwide representative (mainly the Field Coordinator) was present in all Upazila level meeting and gave valuable input by answering to questions.
- Union level inception Meetings were completed: On June 2nd & 3rd 2016, in collaboration with Concern Worldwide, YPSA organized 3 union inception meetings at Ali Akbor Dail, Boroghop and Uttar Dhurong union Parishad on Emergency Assistance to Cyclone ROANU Affected Communities in Southern Coastal of Bangladesh. The inagual session started with the welcome speech and meeting objective by the project manager of YPSA & field coordinator of CWW where all respective chairmen attended as president in those union inception meetings.
The chairman of the aliakbor union, Freedom Fighter Md. Nurussafa B,com mentioned about the severiaty of the cyclone ROANU afected households in that area. Mr. Ad. Faridul Islam chowdhury, chairman of Boroghop up and Md. Hossen, Chairman of Uttar Dhurung also delivered speech on Cyclone ROANU affected in there union.
In the meetings, participants deveploped a clear understanding on the criteria of selecting the beneficiaries which involved several steps for the selection; such as- Eye survey, household survey and a discuss on identifying people with disabilities. The meeting concluded with the speech by the project manager by YPSA. He looked forward to coordination from the participants and welcomed everyone to contribute on ROANU RESPONSE project 2016.
- Beneficiary selection process: Door to door household survey were organized at para/village as the first stage in the selected wards. The following selection criteria are considered during selection:
– Severely affected and temporary displaced due to cyclone ROANU
– High level of loss of livelihood (harvest/livestock/business/ house or other assets)
– Slow/no recovery and/or negative coping strategies (including high level of loans and debts source) and no means to recover from the loss on their own
– Own less than 0.1 acres of land.
- Households that meet following criteria were given preference;
- Presence of Disable or Chronically sick person
- Presence of Lactating Mother / Pregnant women
- Female & Child-headed households
- Old age (60 years and more) headed households
- Survey: Door to door Household survey has been done to all primarily selected beneficiaries by the project staff and check against the criteria. A draft beneficiary list has been prepared from the survey & disseminated at community place for reducing overlapping & out of criteria BNFs listing. The survey was completed accordingly and finally list were endorsed by the respective Chairmen and approved by the Upazilla Nirbahi Officer (UNO) on 13th June 2016.
- Cash Distribution Program: YPSA arranged 3 cash distribution program in the area. On 14th June ’16 at Ali Akbor Dail Union Parishad, 16th June ’16 at Boroghop UP and then Uttar Dhurong on 18th June 2016. Mr. Salehin Tanvir Gazi, UNO of Kutubdia was present as chief guest in the program and inaugurated the program on 14th June 2016 where were also present Sayeda Meherunnesa, Upazila Vice Chairman, Towhidul Islam, Program Coordinator, CWW and Palash Chowdhury, Director (Finance), YPSA. Different GO-NGO officials, Local elected bodies, local elite persons and journalists are observed the program.
- Humanitarian standards and principles ensured: We have establishing HAP & Code of conduct in field level through awareness, public announcement, mosque base awareness, Banner, Festoon, hang complain box, cell phone no in every chit cards,, formation of CMC & PIC through involvement of participants.
The project followed a participatory approach right from the beginning and will continue to do so until the end of the project. We informed about the project to all stakeholders through Union, Upzilla and district level inception participants. so everyone know about the project, entitlements for beneficiaries, roles and responsibilities including contribution support requirements etc. and so we did not face any major problem until today. With our facilitation, the affected community had selected all 1597 most deserving beneficiaries’ form the community through community consultation and no one could make this selection process biased or politically benefited and so the poorest and all disadvantaged group is receiving support. Moreover, have established CRM process in both Unions and so any deviation is reported to us instantly through mobile or face to face. The UNO also had extended support and solved political pressure with very strong message and so the deserving affected persons from the community irrespective of their cast, race, ethnicity or religion is receiving support now.
- Data analysis Reports:
Table 1: Current humanitarian response at Kutubdia uapzila by YPSA with support of START FUND-DFID
| Name of union | Affected HHs (Highly) | Coverage | Packages | Total distributed amount BDT |
| Uttar Dhurong | 3000 | 692 | 4000 BDT and 800 Hygiene kits | 2768000 |
| Ali AkborDail | 2000 | 504 | 4000 BDT and 800 Hygiene kits | 20,16000/- |
| BoroGhop | 1500 | 401 | 4000 BDT and 800 Hygiene kits | 16,04000 |
| Total: | 6500 | 1597 | 63,88,000/- |
Table 2: Sex and Age Disaggregated Data of beneficiaries.
| District | Sub-district | Union | Target HHs | Achieved HHs | Male | Female | |
| Cox bazar | Kutubdia | Ali Akbor | 504 | 504 | 502 | 2 | |
| Boroghop | 401 | 401 | 395 | 6 | |||
| Uttar Dhurong | 692 | 692 | 679 | 13 | |||
| Total: | 1597 | 1597 | 1576 | 21 | |||
Table 3: Sex and Age Disaggregated Data.
| Union | Male | Female | ||||||
| >5 | 5-18 years | 18-50 years | 50+ years | >5 | 5-18 years | 18-50 years | 50+ years | |
| Ali Akbor Dail | 87 | 334 | 406 | 45 | 113 | 347 | 475 | 46 |
| Boroghop | 103 | 262 | 320 | 37 | 112 | 295 | 371 | 60 |
| Uttar Dhurong | 196 | 506 | 586 | 78 | 228 | 482 | 604 | 117 |
| Total: | 386 | 1102 | 1312 | 160 | 453 | 1124 | 1450 | 223 |
Table 4: Selected HHs vulnerability
| Union | Disability | separated | Widow | Pregnant/ Lactating women | Old aged | long times Illness | Livelihood |
| Ali Akbor Dail | 4 | 4 | 40 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 406 |
| Boroghop | 0 | 6 | 32 | 24 | 7 | 9 | 373 |
| Uttar Dhurong | 24 | 22 | 60 | 25 | 6 | 11 | 690 |
| Total: | 28 | 32 | 132 | 55 | 21 | 25 | 1469 |
Challenges:
A lot of pressure were created by politicians and elected bodies to select their nominated beneficiaries but our team with support from the UNO overcome these very diplomatically and their experience in these areas has been greatly supported them to overcome from the situation.
Lessons learned:
- Bearer Bank Cheque System is excellent to ensure entitlement of beneficiaries in a transparent way without any miss appropriation. Once the system is ready then cash distribution is very quick.
- Community based targeting is more effective than traditional survey based targeting. Involving communities in decision-making also encourages better ownership and monitoring of the process and results.
- Local political pressure and local government’s demands are very much in the community. Sometimes they forced to provide the support to their relatives or selected peoples.
Conclusion:
This ROANU response is a very crucial project to support the disaster affected communities by flood and without which many of these could fall into a more severe situation. We are working very hard to complete all projected activities within the time frame and budget and hopefully can complete everything as per proposal expectation. The district and Upazilla administration is very supportive so far and we appraise them with latest update and so far they as well as the beneficiaries are happy with our faster response.