Bangladesh: Disaster friendly water and sanitation website to enrich DRR strategy
A recently launched website 'Disaster Friendly Water and Sanitation' a joint initiative of Dhaka Ahsania Mission and Concern Bangladesh, is intended to help the process of formulating a coordinated disaster risk reduction strategy whilst strengthening field level activities.
A national advocacy campaign '2008 Year of Disaster Friendly Wat-San in Bangladesh' was carried out last year by the Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) and Concern Bangladesh for the implementation of disaster resilient water and sanitation 'wat-san' facilities at household and public places levels.
"Every year a large number of wat-san facilities were damaged by 'natural' disasters in Bangladesh, with consequences such as water borne diseases and loss of resources" said Stephane Bonduelle, Director of Concern Bangladesh. "Every year new wat-san facilities were constructed without taking into consideration the effects of disasters and that those new facilities could eventually be destroyed once again by more hazards the same year."
"We decided to backup our advocacy campaign with disaster and health loss data. Engineers from DAM compiled wat-san disaster resilient technology adapted to different terrains, for both household and public places. We made these technologies available through publications (hard copies) and websites the Disaster Friendly Water and Sanitation website and the Concern website."
"To upgrade wat-san facilities making them disaster resilient requires a small additional investment, much cheaper than the loss of lives or facilities." Stephane concluded.
UNISDR/SL