‘Disabilities’ risks management in disaster must be ensured’

Staff Reporter :
Experts at a workshop have stressed that management of disabilities’ risks during disaster must be ensured.
The Souchna Foundation and the Center for Disability in Development (CDD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, conducted the workshop on Wednesday.
The workshop aims to introduce a survey form and provide assistance to participants in filling out the data to understand how people with disabilities and their caregivers in different parts of Bangladesh are involved and contributing to disaster risk reduction.
The attendees heard from Stephanie Dunnemann-De Palma, External Relations Officer and UN Strategy for Persons with Disabilities Focal Point, UNDRR.
He provided an introduction to the workshop. Additionally, the Secretary of Disaster Management and Relief Ministry of People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Md. Kamrul Hasan, attended as Chief Guest in the event.
In the virtual workshop, participants are encouraged to fill out the attached form by March 3, 2023.
The survey will examine whether people with disabilities are now more involved in planning and decision-making processes for disaster risk reduction or disaster resilience building than when the Sendai Framework was adopted in 2015.
It is noteworthy that UNISDR (now known as UNDRR) conducted a similar survey nearly a decade ago in 2013 to understand how people with disabilities adapt to disasters and climate change.
The study had a significant number of participants from Bangladesh, which was highly appreciated.
Bangladesh has gained recognition as a role model for disaster risk management worldwide, and various initiatives are being taken to ensure the participation of the maximum number of people with disabilities in the 2023 follow-up survey undertaken by UNDRR.
The virtual workshop provided necessary directions to fill the JRAP form/survey, which will ensure the participation of a significant number of disabled people from Bangladesh.
The results of this survey will be used in the remaining seven years of implementation of the Sendai Framework.
It will ensure the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in future global disaster risk management and in dealing with the adverse effects of climate change. This contribution will help to achieve Goal No. 10 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) – Reduction of Inequalities, as well as the overall commitment.
The workshop began at 2:30 PM and end at 5 PM.
People with disabilities from different parts of the world have participated in the survey, and the active participation of Bangladeshi persons with disabilities helped to ensure equal participation in future steps taken by the international community.