Brief of Trip with Tam Tam

Concern Universal - BangladeshPRADG Human Rights UnitBrief of Trip with Tam Tam

Target Area:Ghorjan Union, Chowhali Upazila, Rajapur Union, Belkuchi Upazila (UNO Office, FGD with volunteers for EWS and group discussion with charman of Rajapur Union, UISC people, MMS team members, community people

Field visitors:Ir. H.A.M. (Hans) Hakvoort, Senior Consultant Water Management Business Developer, Ludia Cumiskey, MSC, Researcher / Advisor, Deltares, Eng. Rajhan, RIMS-Bangladesh, Dr. Haheeb, Practical Aciton – Bangladesh, Jhuma Halder, Project Officer, PRADG-Human Rights Unit, Concern Universal - Bangldesh, Mr. Habibulla Bahar, ED, MMS, Amir Hossain, DD,MMS and other team members from MMS

FGD Participants:Practical Action team at Rajapur, PRADG team at Chowhali and Belkuchi Union, Community People at Chowhali and RajapurRajapur –Total – 27 (Male – 15, Female – 12) Chowhali – Total – 22 (Male – 13, Female – 9)

FGD findings: Identified issues

- Communication Problem (Broken Road, EWS through mobile, emergency respond)- Community people disseminate information through mike from Mashjid- Crop damage, harvest loss, cost reduction, loss of economic value at the time of disaster - Hazards in disaster period (damage, household assets)- High water level (during raining season/monsoon)- Lack of information to access in community at early stage- Low disaster management (recovery of flood damage, sanitation, food, location of shelter,

emergency services)- No boat ambulance for emergency period- No early warning or forecast for disaster- No embankment for flood - No local information center except UISC- No record massage or voice sms to the community people- No social solution of information dissemination - No specific actions overcoming panic situation - No prior plan to collect information of EW message - No transport to reach safer place at disaster period- No experience on respond factor building capacity for EWS- Depends of weather forecast TV or Radio

1 CUB_PRDG_Human_Rights_Unit_JH_P_O_15_06_2014

Brief of Trip with Tam Tam

- No public meeting on early warning system- No email based forecast- No forecast through mobile phone- Panic situation at the time of formal early hazard warning - Risk of local hazards- River erosion- Sever Flood - UISC/ camp is far from the affected area

Main factors for EWS pilot project

In char land the UISC does not function as the guide book of early information center. It exist far from the char land community with less access of establish information center. The volunteers and other community people are not trained in from the reading and managing the ement of gauge. The selected local authority set up entrepreneurship of information service center for delivery of massage from FFWL and weather forecast. The community people are not regularly connected with Union Parishad for receiving EW message. Early function and developing forecast of voice SMS messages in needful for enhance the quality and local relevance of the forecasts prepared by FFWC.

Meeting with Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) at Chowhali Upazila and Project Integration Officer (PIO) at Belkuchi Upazila

Chowhali:

About 20 minutes discussion with UNO at Chowhali on 11 June 2014, was found that the local administrations are informed about the piloting on EWS will be developed under TAM TAM. The discussion ensured that UNO and other volunteer was invited at the time of previous workshop they (TAM TAM) arranged by MMS for change the reality that affect char land communities. The authority ensured their participation and set up the information center for accessing the community people for early warning regarding natural disaster.

Suggestions:

- Early warning system will help the community to reduce lack of information and improve the community people for saving lives, cattle and crops

- More information center is needful

Belkuchi:

The meeting with PIO of Belkuchhi Upazila Parishad on 12 June 2014 it was found that they were informed about the pilot project of TAM TAM implementing by the Manab Mukti Sangtha (MMS). They will support at his best for functioning of information service center in char land. The PIO included that the integrated disaster information system of early warning will interact the people for updating the information and will allow the community receiving early forecast at last minute updates and mutual assistance. Though the char land community are not involve with the community redio concept and

2 CUB_PRDG_Human_Rights_Unit_JH_P_O_15_06_2014

Brief of Trip with Tam Tam

integration of voice sms and other technical options that can identify the early information, the volunteers and other personnel of UISC and CISC will operate the community redio and community based information at their respective places.

Suggestions:

- The entrepreneurs of UISC and other information center will reduce employment problem and will encourage the people for wide dissemination of information and technology

- The CISC will support UISC to rescue and emergency service delivery at early stage

3 CUB_PRDG_Human_Rights_Unit_JH_P_O_15_06_2014