Bangladesh: 'Everyday issues more a priority than natural disasters' - expert

Speaking at the National Sharing Workshop under the fifth DIPECHO Action Plan Outcome for South Asia, disaster risk reduction specialist, Dilruba Haider, said that people in general are more concerned over electricity shortage or traffic jams than earthquakes or floods.

Haider stressed the importance of strengthening community mobilisation in the hazard prone areas stressing that it is the courage and resourcefulness of friends, neighbours and relatives that save most lives when disasters strike.

The DIPECHO programme is an action plan that includes emergency response programme, advocacy and public awareness, early warning systems, dissemination of information, training and capacity building and mitigation work. There are six projects, as part of the programme in Bangladesh, run by six NGO partners.