The vast southern belt of Bangladesh, particularly the coastal regions, faces acute risks due to climate change. This vulnerability arises from the area's low-lying nature, overpopulation, and an economy intricately tied to environmental resources. These regions are regularly subjected to natural hazards such as cyclones, tidal surges, flooding, salinity intrusion, and waterlogging. These recurring calamities not only devastate infrastructure but also displace millions, strip people of their livelihoods, and lead to increased hunger and health crises.
The compounded impacts of climate change in these areas make humanitarian response critical. Displaced populations, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and widespread food insecurity demand coordinated interventions. Immediate assistance is necessary to help communities survive these crises, adapt to the changing environment, and rebuild their lives. By addressing these challenges, LEDARS’ humanitarian actions play a vital role in safeguarding lives, ensuring food security, and supporting resilience in the face of escalating environmental threats.
Enhance disaster resilience by implementing robust early warning mechanisms, conducting workshops on disaster risk reduction (DRR), and formulating actionable community response plans. Equip communities with essential disaster response materials, such as life jackets, helmets, gumboots, chainsaws, ropes, and hand mikes, to ensure readiness during emergencies.
Respond promptly to disasters like cyclones (e.g., SIDR, AILA, Amphan, Remal) and health emergencies (e.g., COVID-19) by providing essential aid, including drinking water, hygiene kits, dignity kits, dry food, non-conditional cash support, and cash-for- work programs. Support affected families in repairing damaged homes and rebuilding livelihoods to expedite recovery.
Build local capacity by providing DRR training to youth and forming dedicated emergency response teams. Equip these teams to carry out rescue operations and coordinate relief efforts effectively, including utilizing specialized resources such as river ambulances for rapid evacuation during floods or cyclones.
Deliver critical health and hygiene support to disaster-affected populations. Establish mobile medical units and provide emergency health care services, ensuring access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities like disaster resilient toilet to prevent disease outbreaks in disaster-prone areas.
Conduct awareness campaigns on disaster preparedness and mitigation. Engage local communities in DRR workshops and resilience-building activities, empowering them with knowledge and tools to reduce disaster risks and recover more effectively. Promote a culture of preparedness and safety to minimize losses from future climate-induced disasters. Advocate for national level initiative like “One House One Shelter” for disaster resilience.
• Excavated 05 pond and installed 05 PSFs in 05 villages in Gabura with the support of Asia
Arsenic Network.
• LEDARS donated 20 cyclone resistance low cost houses to the widow families of Gabura union after SIDR.
• Dewatered 17 pond in the area and re-activated 17 Pond Sand Filter (PSF).
• LEDARS also provided support to 100 vulnerable adolescent girls’ families in Koyra and Shyamnagar during after AILA.
• Distributed 25,000 hygiene package among 1060 families, 200 Mosques and 40 temples.
• Support emergency food to 350 families as part of COVID response.
• Distributed 136 pieces of buckets, 136 piece mug, 100 pieces soap, and 22 kg bleaching powder and food support in the 44 cyclone shelters, supplied more than 3,80,000 liters of drinking water to the community and distributed 3,000 water purification tablet and adequate amount of oral saline, food gift among 1000 households and hygiene package and non- conditional cash support to 2,610 households as part of Amphan response.
• 225 kg flattened rice and 20kg sugar candies to Remal affected people.
LEDARS (Local Environment Development and Agricultural Research Society) is a non-profit and non-political development organization. LEDARS has been working since 1996 in Bangladesh. Details…
