One week after Cyclone Aila struck southern Bangladesh [and West Bengal and Orissa in India], survivors in some areas are facing acute shortages of drinking water after many water sources were contaminated.
“The dire situation has yet to improve,” Mohammad Badi Akhter, Oxfam’s acting chief of operations in Dhaka, told IRIN, noting the government was calling on NGOs to beef up their operations, particularly for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
Despite relief efforts by the government, NGOs, the UN and international agencies, thousands of people on islands had yet to receive any kind of relief assistance. Even on the mainland, scores of people were still trapped in their homes, surrounded by stagnant floodwater.
“I don’t see any possibility of the waters receding before the end of the monsoon,” said a water engineer from the Sharankhola area of Bagerhat District. This translates into the end of September [ 2009]: the consequences of the storm may turn out worse than expected.
[...] Lack of drinking water was forcing many to go hungry as they were unable to cook the food they had received from relief agencies.
Over 1,400km of flood protection embankments were washed away by Aila, exposing thousands of villages just as the monsoon is beginning, the country’s Disaster Management Bureau reported.
[...]
The main sources of drinking water in coastal areas are ponds, wells and tube wells, but many have been contaminated. “I had to walk five miles [8km] to get one pitcher of drinking water. All the sweet water ponds and tube wells were flooded by sea water,” said Motia Banu, a resident of Burirchar Union, Borguna District. [In week of 1-7 June 2009, the ICCDR,B estimated that 2000 to 3000 patients suffered from diarrhoea every day in the affected areas, of whom 20-30 patients were severely affected, and three people has died - ICDDR,B, 09 Jun 2009].
Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund and the government’s Department of Public Health Engineering are working with Action contre la Faim, ActionAid, BRAC, CARE, CARITAS, Catholic Relief Services, NGO Forum, Islamic Relief, Muslim Aid, Save the Children USA, Solidarites, Oxfam GB and Water Aid to improve the WASH situation.
UNICEF is procuring 70,000 bags of oral rehydration salts and pre-positioning 12.5 million water purification tablets, essential drugs and 135.7 tons of high-energy BP-5 biscuits.
“We have mobilised volunteers throughout the affected region. They are providing dry food, water purification tablets and oral rehydration solutions,” Mohamad Abul Quasem, an officer of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), told IRIN.
Source: IRIN, 02 Jun 2009
As of 10 June 2009, the death toll from Cyclone Aila according to the government was 190 and over 3.9 million people has been affected.
The WASH cluster/ working group [were carrying out an assessment for further assistance regarding water and sanitation. A rough estimate indicates about 500,000 to 750,000 people are seeking immediate water supply and sanitation supports. Most of the ponds have saline water contamination making them unfit to support drinking and other domestic water supply for the communities. Water purification is carried out by agencies such as CARE/Oxfam GB, DPHE, Save the Children USA, WVI. Bangladesh Army is also supporting water trucking to the locations [that] are difficult to reach by other agencies. Beside providing pure water many WASH working group agencies are working on restoration of potable water sources by dewatering/disinfecting ponds and tube-wells.
Source: Govt of Bangladesh / Reliefweb, 11 Jun 2009
For the latest updates on Cyclone Aiila water and sanitation relief efforts in Bangladesh see ReliefWeb.
Across the border in “over 5.1 million people have been affected in 16 districts of West Bengal, and over 500,000 houses either damaged or destroyed”, according to a release by the OPEC Fund for International Development (OPIC) on 8 June 2009. A week after the cyclone hit West Bengal, the Indian Express (02 Jun 2009) reports how the people on the islands of Sunderban had still not received any government relief. “Nine-year-old Sandeepa Gharami survived Cyclone Aila, but succumbed in its aftermath. She died on an embankment near Lahiripur on Friday after several days of continuous vomiting and diarrhoea. She received no medical care. Her parents buried her by the river”.
Dear Sir or Madam,
Thank you very much. We collect your address from internet. SHELTER is a national level NGO in Bangladesh and works in deferent fields under funded and partnership with UNICEF, IOM, GTZ, GOB of Bangladesh, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, ITF UK, EVERGREEN UK and other organization. We need your partners support for extent our programs and develop our organization performing and works to our country grassroots level.
Hope your cooperation is highly appraised for make our performances and good partnership with your organization from next communing days.
I welcome you visit our organization and working field from your convenient time and see our work.
For your information I will give a brief of our org below this mail. If you need any more information about us please write me by return.
Thanks and wish good luck all of you.
Best Regard,
Salim.
Chief Executive Officer.
SHELTER
info@shelterbd.org
http://www.shelterbd.org
“Brief of Shelter”
About Us:
“Shelter” is a Non Government, Voluntary and Social Welfare organization, established in January 2000 with an executive committee of 5 capable members and a general committee of 40 members who are involved in organization works.
Shelter maintains its mother accounts with Shahjalal Islamic Bank, Dhaka Main Brunch.
Shelter maintains audit from the 1st year. Renowned Chartered Accounting farm enlisted in NGO Affairs Bureau is providing their service to Shelter.
“Organogram of Shelter”
Organogram of the NGO: Executive Committee has been formed among 5 General Council members to oversee the management of the project. Under the guidance of executive Committee and the executive Director 40 other professionals and service staffs are responsible for implementing the existing project. The Executive Committee meets once in every three months to review progress, prospectus future plans and develop policy framework. The staff members are primarily responsible for the implementation of the project under the policy framework and the supervision of the Executive Committee.
The organ gram of the organization is as follows:
After establishment, it has started its activity in the four local Thana level slum areas. At the same time, Shelter got registration from different body.
“Legal Status”
The organization owns a legal authority to operate its activities in the country through necessary registration under relevant government agencies like NGO Affairs Bureau, Department of Social welfare & Youth Development Department. Registration Numbers and dates are as follows:
Registration Authority Registration No Date of Reg.
NGO Affair Bureau Renew 1780
(Next 5 Years 5th Aug 2013) 29/12/2002
5th August2008
Department of Social Welfare 433/2002 28/07/2002
Department of Youth and Sports DHO 06304 17/09/2001
Main Focuses: – Our organization main focuses are HIV/AID and women and child trafficking programs since 2002 under ATSEC Bangladesh and IOM (International Organization of Migration) from 2007.“HIV/AIDs” Shelter works for the field on HIV/AIDS/STD Prevention fields for the past seven years. Shelter start works HIV/AIDS and STD related with Reproductive Health, Gender, Human Rights and Social Development as cross cutting issues over arching across the high risk and bridging community. Shelter also start works HIV/AIDS Advocacy Legal issues on HIV/AIDS, Gender and HIV, Women Empowerment & HIV, Rights based approach to HIV, HIV Curriculum development.
The organization provides awareness support to the community through advocacy campaigns, whose goal is to create community-wide awareness and education against HIV/AIDS prevalence, sexual and reproductive health risks.
Organization also works Promotion of Legal and Social Empowerment of women. Ensuring Gender Equity under GTZ and MWCA is jointly implementing.
Tree plantation programs and climate change environmental project sponsor by ITF UK (International Tree Foundation United Kingdom) and GOV partnership.
Mother and Child Care Programs sponsor by “EVERGREEN UK”.All the programs of the organization involved at grassroots’ level.
At present Shelter maintains 4 divisional offices for on going projects in Dhaka, Habigonj, Sirajgonj, Moulavibazar and it extends its operation to another 8 District is Mymensingh, Tangial, Rangamati, Bandarbon, Kagaracore, Chittagonj, Brahmonbaria and Sunamgonj.18 Upozillas.
“Shelter Working With”
Shelter is fully non- profitable and non- political social organization. We are working in multi dimensional sectors. Presently Shelter is working on some burning issues which are-
i. Anti-trafficking Programs.
ii. Non-formal education Programs.
iii. HIV/AIDS & STD Prevention Program
iv. Women Empowerment & Gender Equity Program, advocacy and human rights.
v. Mother & Child Health Care Program.
vi. Agro Forestry (Agro based product, Nursery, horticulture, tree plantation, poultry and fishery Program).
vii. Environment degradation protection Program.
viii. Water Supply, Sanitation & Arsenic Program.
ix. Capacity Building Training & Awareness Campaign Program.
“Previous Activities of Shelter”
(01). SHELTER provided about 320 beneficiaries Computer training and sewing training programs February 2002 to 2004 and continue.
02). “Poultry fishery & Duck rearing and Poultry Vaccination training programs for youth development in Shelter training center” from 2006.
(03). Yearly summer and winter clothes and medicine distributed to street people. In Addition, SHELTER distributed relief goods such as food, cloths, drinking water and medicines among 14500 beneficiaries in flood-affected areas.
(04) “Non-formal education program” Street children and old people Education program. We’ve successfully worked in the year 2001 to 2006 from our Brach office at schools at Zia Shorani, Shampur Thana in Dhaka District. 1500 Street children & 1000 adult old people have been benefited from this program.
(05) Mother and Child health Care project: In the year 2003 the organization accomplished a Mother and Child health Care project sponsored by” EVERGREEN” UK. Under this program we provided primary Health care services and distributed Family Planning commodities. Beneficiaries were about 9400 mother and child, Street Children and old (Male & Female) people 8230.
(06) “HIV/AIDS and Women trafficking program”. We Worked on HIV/AIDS and
Women trafficking program from year 2000 to 2007 in different districts, which involved local folk singer to promote the awareness. Recently we’ve completed a woman trafficking program under the ATSEC Bangladesh in three risky districts nearby the country border, those are area of Balla, Taleaia Para, Surma Tea estate border & Satchore border of Hobigonj District and Shindurkhal border & Beddeachara border and school of Mouluvibazar District; Tamabil, Jockilgonj, Jaflong and Jointa Border of Sylhet District. This program benefited about 125,000 tribal mother and child, who work as tea garden labor along the India border. Report picture, documentary film and Video submitted to the ATSEC Bangladesh.
(07) “Self dependency of the farmers by increasing agricultural Production through using homestead and field waste in Bamondanga of Gaibandha and Muktagacha of Mymensingh”, Under the Ministry of Science and Information Technology of GOV Bangladesh, which was successfully completed in the year of 2004/2005
(08) “The Practices of Ethno-Botanic among the indigenous Repel” (Tangail, Mymensingh, Moulubibazer and Rangamati and Bandarban District), Under The Ministry of Science & information Technology GOV of Bangladesh, Which was successfully completed in the year of 2004/2005.
(09) “Dream project Part-1″ Tree plantation projects. The project area includes Dhamrai Upazilla under Dhaka district and Bahubal Upazila under Hobigonj District, which was successfully completed in the year of 2006, Sponsored by ITF UK.14 villages 210 family 6650 people has benefited from this project.
(10) “Dream project Part-2″ Tree plantation projects. The Project area includes Bahubal, Chanuragahet and Hobigonj Upazilla under Hobigonj District, which was Successful completed in the 2007, Sponsored by ITF UK.20 villages 550 families 6550 people has benefited from this project.
(11) “Promotion of Legal and Social Empowerment of women” Ensuring Gender Equity (Under the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MWCA) is jointly implementing a project) Gender equality is a major challenge in the area of human resources development at the global level. Gender discrimination has been identified as one of the most all-pervading forms of institutionalized deprivation. As the women about half the population, their participation must be an integral part of the democratic process, which would strengthen the quality of their life. Since, decentralization has been recognized as a means to ensure democratic functioning and decision making in a developing country like Bangladesh, with the bulk of its population still living in rural areas, empowerment of women through importance. Therefore, the recent constitutional amendment prescribing a structured form of decentralized governance and decision-making rightly emphasizes statutory participation of women in the grass root level organizations. The proposed sub-project will be an attempt to address a positive relation to the advancement of women in Bangladesh.
(12)“NEEM TREE Plantation Programs”, which is aimed to cover all district in Bangladesh. This Medicine Tree (Neem) plantation programs has successfully completed in 77(Seventy-seven) Union Porisodh complexes, 6 Pourosabha Porisodh complex and 8 Upazilla Porisodh complexes in Hobigonj district under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner.
“On going activities of Shelter”
(01) “prevention and Protection of victims of Human Trafficking in Bangladesh (PPVHT-B) This project is sponsored by IOM (International Organization for Migration).We jointly works with IOM on this program in Sirajgonj District.
(02) Water, sanitation and arsenic programs in Barmonbaria, Sunamgonj and Hobigonj district.
(03) Tree plantation programs “Dream Project Part-3”jointly implement by ITF UK, District administration of Hobigonj and SHELTER. The project area Bahubal, Chonuragahat and Hobigonj Upozilla under Hobigonj district. The project opining by the district Army commander carnal moonier and his team successfully complete plantation on June 2008.2 villages, 720 family and 8950 would be directly benefited under this project.
Tree plantation environment conservation project :
Natural environment in the upozilla has and rapidly been deteriorating due to a plethora of human activities. Lack of awareness proper preservation of natural and social environment also adds deterioration of environment. To avert this situation, SHELTER has been distributing deferent type of saplings like mango, jackfruit, black berry, rain tree, mahogany, teak etc to its target beneficiaries after identifying their need. Homestead short training is usually given to them. Approximately 12000 saplings were produced at SHELTER nursery and were distributed and planted. A total of 15 field workers (FWs) and 300 groups number were provided with training on social environment conservation/protection and development issues like degradation of social, environment and moral degradation, existing social outlook evils, conflict resolution etc.
(04) HIV/AIDS treatment awareness programs & drug control and women trafficking programs under the ATSEC.
SHELTER is working in the fields of HIV/AIDS/STD related disease, reproductive health, gender equity, human rights and social development as cross cutting issues over arching across the high risk and bridging community last seven years.
SHELTER also working to build up awareness supports the community through advocacy campaigns, which goal is to create community-wide awareness and education against HIV/AIDS prevalence and sexual and reproductive health risks.
(05) 5 (five)-kilometres tree plantation on koway riverbank in association with water development board in Hobigonj district.
(06) 5(Five)-Lac production capacity wood, medicin, Fruits and flower tree nursery project in Hobigonj district.
(07) We have one local pop singer group they will play local pop song in Sylhet division last 4 year form deferent programs and another one GOMVERA singer group in Sirajgonj district, they will play GOMVERA all concern point in Sirajgonj district under PPVHTB Project from IOM Partnership.
(08) We also take small type climate change and environmental project HAKALUKE Hour in Sylhet division and JOMANA Custer belt in Sirajgonj district.
(09) Youth development deferent training programs in Shelter training centre. SHELTER home and dropping centre.
(10) Shelter completed Qurbani Programs 2008 to distbutetad 2-cow meet for pour people to the SHELTER working aria Hobigonj district under partnership of The Zakat Foundation America Bangladesh
(11) Shelter start a project “Shelter Sanitation and Fresh Drinking Water Facilities Project for Disadvantaged people in Brindabon Tea Estate Hobiganj” under grunt from Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Dhaka. The project Starting date01/02/09 and End of Project 30/09/09. The tea Garden Disadvantaged people will have access to better Drinking water & Sanitation facilities for a long term. Their forefathers were brought from Urishaya in India as Tea Garden worker (Name of Kule, Disadvantaged Tribal People) by the then British Govt.befour 150 years. Thos people are still deprived of all the sanitation and fresh drinking water facilities.
(12) Shelter start work the project of “Interactive Popular Theatre (IPT)” 2nd primary education development programs (PEDP-2).Under GOB-UNICEF to all Upozilla primary school of Sirajgonj District.
“Shelter also works”
Since livestock sector is highly viable for generation of employment and income for the landless, unemployed youths and destitute women, SHELTER prioritizes livestock and poultry rearing for the disadvantaged organized women and youths for poverty and hunger alleviation out of regular income of milk, meat and eggs.
To achieve the objectives, SHELTER renders input services like trainings, in-kind supply of chicken, duck and heifer as well as vaccination for the disease control.
With the assistance of own fund, SHELTER initiated livestock & poultry rearing program from the year 2002 for a period of 3 years. Besides, Shelter is working on Human Resource Development. HRD is aimed at fostering resource management and business/entrepreneurship development activities of SHELTER in order to develop human resources. Human Resource Department of SHELTER has been implementing different type of training. This training is arranged for all level staffs/members of SHELTER, target groups, other development organization, entrepreneurs and social elites. Human Resource Development Department emphasizes on to development carrier plan of staff to increase their capacity and qualitative training at center and field level, residential and non-residential program.
Area of concentration in providing Training:
• Human Resource Development Management
• Social Awareness and Behavioral Change Communication
• Income Generating Activities and Skill Development
• Primary Health Care & Hygiene
Human Development Training Courses:
SHELTER offers the following training course for its staffs, group members, volunteers as well as staff of other development organizations.
Basic Management Training
Project Management Training
Livestock Development Training and Project Management.
Doctor’s Package Course & Clinic Management Training
Project Management, Finance and MIS Training
Integrated Homestead Farming
Poultry & Duck Rearing and Poultry Vaccination
Hygiene & Sanitation
Human Rights and Law
Gender Awareness.
We need partner support for extend our on going and new programs. Please see our web page http://www.shelterbd.org and give your advice for moor develop our works. Hope your cooperation is highly appraised for good partnership with your organization from next communing days. Good luck.
“Shelter”
295, Inner Circular Road, 3rd Floor, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Mobil No.01715022893 Tel: 8802-7193281,Fax: 8802-7101271,
Email:info@shelterbd.org,sheltengo@yahoo.com, www. shelterbd.org
GPO BOX No.2015, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Reg.Partner Work Support for NGO Work.