Disaster Management | Bangladesh

What are Disasters, Vulnerability and Hazards?

It is not easy to explain the concept of disaster simply because of its connection with multifarious factors. Over a decade, there has been a profound discussion on social and economic issues related to disasters. During this period, some important concepts and terms were introduced, leading to what is now commonly understood as a disaster. Disasters are usually understood as unforeseen phenomena in social life that are assumed to be beyond the sphere of human control.

Concept, Cycle and Techniques of Disaster Management

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Disaster is a severe disruption of the functioning of a community or a society, causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses, which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources (UNISDR 2004). A disaster happens when a hazard impacts a vulnerable population and causes damage, casualties and disruption. An earthquake in an uninhabited desert cannot be considered a disaster, no matter how strong the intensities produced. An earthquake is only disastrous when it affects people, property, and activities.

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The term disaster is defined as "a serious disruption of the functioning of society, causing widespread human, material, or environmental losses which exceed the ability of affected society to cope using only its own resources" by the United Nations (1992). The damage caused by disaster depends on the climate, the geographical location and the type of the earth's surface/degree of vulnerability and disasters adversely affect the mental, socio-economic, political and cultural state of the affected area in general (Rahman, 2012: 88; Press and Hamilton, 1999: 1927; Ergünay, 1996).

Disaster is a sudden calamity at a comprehensive level that brings extravagant havoc, loss, damage and destruction to lives, infrastructure and the overall environment. According to Hartsough & Myers (1987), disaster can be any happening that produces individual trauma and extensive community commotion, and that causes injury, death or widespread destruction. Disasters can be natural, such as drought, earthquake, tidal waves, tornado, tsunamis, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, floods, storms, fire, pestilences, avalanches, landslides, cyclones and blizzards (American Red Cross, 1991); or they can be man-made, like war, acts of terrorism, violence, kidnapping, riots, nuclear accidents, hazardous water contamination, dam breaks, building collapse, transportation or industrial accidents. The disasters can be sudden or slow, unpredictable or expected (NDMA, 2013).

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According to  Bangladesh Disaster Management Act 2012, 'Disaster' means any such incidents mentioned below created by nature or humans or created due to climate change and its massiveness and devastation cause such damage to cattle, birds and fisheries, including life, livelihood, everyday life, resources, assets of the community and the environment of the damaged area or create such level of hassle to that community whose own resources, capability and efficiency are not sufficient to deal this and relief and any kind of assistance is needed to sell that situation.


'disaster' refers to any sudden, unexpected or extraordinary misfortune that disrupts the prevailing order of life, causing danger, injury, illness, death, and property loss (Kumar, 2001:92). However, However, a disaster is also described as a combination of hazard and vulnerability.

According to Ariyabandu (2003: 28), "Hazard is defined as the probability of the occurrence of a dangerous phenomenon at a given place within a given period. On the other hand, vulnerability is defined as the degree of susceptibility to a hazard, or the lack of capacity to absorb the impact of a hazard and recover from it."

According to Bangladesh Disaster Management Act 2012, 'Hazard' means any unnatural incident which is created by natural law, due to technical faults or by humans and, as a result, bring down the everyday lifestyle of peoples to danger and risk through occurring devastation and creating sorrows and sufferings including devastating and irreparable damages to necessary items to maintain livelihood;

Vulnerability also refers to a set of prevailing and consequential conditions that adversely affect the ability of a person, group or community to prevent, mitigate, prepare for and respond to hazardous events (Bhatti, 2003:58). It is related to physical factors and a range of social, economic, cultural, and political factors (Ariyabandu, 2003:28).

However, hazards might originate in nature, but societal processes turn these into disasters. For example, climatic hazards like floods, cyclones, droughts, tidal waves etc., are part of a meteorological risk, but these turn into disasters when the structural and non-structural infrastructure of the affected area is too shabby to cope with these risks (Bhatti, 2003:58). Therefore, a disaster is an outcome of a hazard impacting vulnerable populations. In this situation, the hazard by itself is not a disaster unless there are vulnerable populations who can't combat it and who are unable to cope with it.

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UNDP (2007:2) analyzes this issue more profoundly. It defines disaster "as a function of the risk process. It results from the combination of hazards, conditions of vulnerability and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce the potential negative consequences of risk. Natural hazards become disasters if they induce a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources."

Murphy and Dolan (2003:1) also put stress on the capacity of the local community to cope with the catastrophic situation in defining disasters. They assert that disasters may be defined as a risk event that swamps the ability of a local community to combat the consequences of that event.

On the other hand, Carter (1992: xxiii) defines a disaster as an event, natural or man-made, sudden or progressive, which impacts with such severity that the affected community needs to take exceptional measures to respond to such an event.

However, a disaster is an abnormal or infrequent hazard that impacts vulnerable communities or geographical areas, causing prolonged damage, disruption and possible casualties and leaving the affected communities unable to function normally and requiring outside assistance (Benson and Twigg, 2004: 6/20). Similar views are found in the definitions of the Government of Bangladesh (MoDMR, 1999:1) and International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (cited in Benson and Twigg, 2004: 6/20). They define disaster as a serious disruption of the functioning of society, causing widespread human, material or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope with, using only its own resources. Therefore, the flood has been considered a disaster in this study when it causes widespread losses of material and non-material resources, disrupts the livelihood process of the affected community, and the affected people cannot cope with it using only their own resources.

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Previous losses experienced in recurring disasters have led to a paradigm shift from "a traditional relief approach (where communities are considered as "victims" and "beneficiaries" of assistance) to disaster preparedness (a more holistic and long-term approach that incorporates vulnerability reduction as part of the development planning process)". This comprehensive approach recognizes that disaster mitigation has the highest effectiveness at the community level, where specific needs are met (Rahman, 2012: 88).

Thus, an efficient disaster management system becomes mandatory to mitigate recurring losses and successfully manage the disaster. From this point of view, disaster management is defined as "a process or strategy that is implemented when any type of catastrophic event takes place". In some studies, it is also described as disaster recovery management; the process may be initiated when anything threatens normal operations or puts the lives of human beings at risk (Kale and Kutemate, 2011: 35).

What is Disaster Management?

Disaster management is concerned with preparing for, ameliorating the impact and reducing the risk of disasters. It involves both the emergency operation in a disaster and the rebuilding of society in the aftermath of the disaster (Tan, 2009). It is connected with various factors. Over a decade, there has been a profound discussion of social and economic issues related to the disaster. During this period, some important concepts and terms were introduced to the field or issue that led to what is commonly understood as a disaster. Therefore, it is necessary to have a clear idea about the disaster before explaining the concept of disaster management.

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According to Bangladesh Disaster Management Act 2012, 'Disaster Management' means methodical institutional structure and program for disaster risk reduction and immediate response after the disaster, through which the following steps and programs may be taken to deal with the disaster, such:-

a) determination of danger, scale and duration of disaster;

b) management, including the adoption of plans, coordination and implementation;

c) provide early warning, caution, danger or extreme danger signal and arrange for propagation and transfer of life and assets to secure places;

d) conducting search and rescue after the disaster, determination of estimation and demand of life and assets damaged, under humanitarian aid program distribution of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction and adoption programs for essential service, rescue and development; and

e) conducting relevant other programs.

The cycle of Disaster Management 

Disaster management, nowadays, has become a serious concern among the stakeholders because of the frequent occurrence of the various types of disasters and their consequences. Sociologists, public administrators and social workers, development organizations and donor agencies emphasize managing disasters with proper plans and programs, as it breaks down the livelihood process of the affected community and hinders the sustainable development process. Generally, disaster management refers to the collective action encompassing all aspects of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters that include the activities carried out before, during, and after disasters. A comprehensive disaster management approach includes five primary phases: prevention, preparedness, emergency response, recovery and mitigation (Bhatti 2003:59; Cater, 1992)

Prevention

There is an old adage that "prevention is better than cure" that includes the measures taken to impede the occurrence of a disaster. It consists of the measures taken to impede the occurrence of a disaster. But it is not possible to prevent the occurrence of natural disasters entirely, though the extent of its damages can be reduced (Ahmed 1994:33). 

Measures to eliminate or reduce the incidence of severity. 

Land-use planning; 

Preventing habitation in risk zones; 

Disaster resistant buildings; 

Finding ways to reduce risk even before the disaster strikes; 

Community awareness and education.

Preparedness

Preparedness is a broad term that covers the activities designed in the foresight of a disaster to ensure that appropriate and effective action is taken earlier to cope with the disaster and to abate the loss of lives and properties. These actions include disaster plans, the training of responders, the maintenance of human, material and financial resources and the establishment of public education and information system (Kreps et al. 2006:19).

Disaster preparedness refers to measures taken to prepare for and reduce the effects of disasters. That is, to predict and, where possible, prevent disasters, mitigate their impact on vulnerable populations, and respond to and effectively cope with their consequences. It provides a platform to design effective, realistic and coordinated planning, reduces duplication of efforts and increases the overall effectiveness of National Societies, households and community members disaster preparedness and response efforts. Disaster preparedness activities embedded with risk reduction measures can prevent disaster situations and save maximum lives and livelihoods during any disaster situation, enabling the affected population to get back to normalcy within a short period. 

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Besides, It is a continuous and integrated process resulting from a wide range of risk reduction activities and resources rather than a specific sectoral activity. It requires the contributions of many different areas, ranging from training and logistics to health care, recovery, livelihood, and institutional development.

It has the following main elements: 

Community awareness and education; 

Preparation of disaster management plans for community, school, individual; 

Mock drill, training and practice; 

Inventory of resources, both material resources and human skill resources; 

Proper warning systems; 

Mutual aid arrangement; 

Identifying the vulnerable groups;

Emergency response

The emergency response includes the essential services and activities undertaken during the initial impact or in the aftermath of a disaster, including those to save lives and prevent further damage to property (Bhatti, 2003:59; Kapucu, 2008:244; Kreps et al., 2006:20). The primary aims of disaster response are rescuing from immediate danger and stabilizing physical and emotional conditions. These go hand in hand with the recovery of the dead and restoring essential services such as water and power. How long this takes varies according to the scale, type and context of the disaster but typically takes between one and six months and is composed of a search and rescue phase in the immediate aftermath of a disaster followed by a medium-term step devoted to stabilizing the survivors' physical and emotional condition.

It has the following main elements: 

Activate the emergency operation centres (control room); 

Deployment of search and rescue teams. 

Issuing updated warning; 

Setting up community kitchens using local groups; 

Set up temporary living accommodation and toilet facilities; 

Set up medical camps; 

Mobilizing resources;

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Recovery

Recovery is the action or process of getting back something that has been lost (Hornby, 2000:1063). In disaster management, recovery refers to the activities taken after the initial impact to develop socio-economic and environmental conditions that are destroyed by disasters to achieve a return to normality (Kapucu, 2008:244). That is, disaster recovery activities are related to the reestablishment of pre-disaster social and economic routine provisions of financial and other services to the victims and repair of destroyed properties (Kreps et al. 2006:20).

Recovery refers to those programmes which go beyond the provision of immediate relief to assist those who have suffered the full impact of a disaster to rebuild their homes, lives and services and strengthen their capacity to cope with future disasters. 

Following a disaster, life-saving assistance is the most urgent need. The rapid provision of food, water, shelter and medical care is vital to prevent further loss of life and alleviate suffering. However, practical experience, backed by research, supports the view that even at this stage, relief must be conducted with a thought to the affected community's longer-term benefit and certainly should not be prejudicial to it. And as people begin to get back on their feet and rebuild their lives, aid agencies need to help them strengthen their resilience to future hazards. Just restoring the pre-disaster status quo may inadvertently perpetuate vulnerability. Likewise, development programmes need to consider existing risks and susceptibility to threats and incorporate elements to reduce them. The two approaches are interdependent, complementary and mutually supportive.

The main elements are as follows: 

Community awareness on health and safety measures; 

Counselling programme for those who have lost their near and dear ones; 

Restoring the essential services -roads, communication links, electricity etc.; 

Providing shelters; 

Collecting usable materials for construction from the rubble; 

Providing financial support; 

Finding employment opportunities; 

Reconstructing new buildings

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Mitigation

Mitigation involves the measures that can be adopted to minimize the destructive effects of hazards and lessen the magnitude of disasters. These activities can occur before, during and after disasters and overlap all phases of disaster management.

In brief flood, cyclone, drought, tidal surge, tornado, cold wave, river erosion, arsenic contamination of groundwater has acquiesced as a disaster when it turns into a hazardous event and affects a specific territory and the affected people of that area who are not able to cope with it.

However, the meaning of some terms, 'preparedness', 'mitigation' and 'prevention', is very often overlapping (see WFP 1999 for details). These measures are related to the reduction of risks and consequences of disasters. Therefore, in this study, disaster management has been considered an approach in combination with preparedness, emergency response, and recovery to combat the hazardous situation created by floods.

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Characteristics of Disaster Management 

According to Oxford Dictionary, a crisis is a decisive moment-a time of great difficulty, a disaster, or a catastrophe. It is a turning point that changes the destiny of an individual or a group or a company or a government. Therefore, the term 'Crisis' and Disaster' is used synonymously. However, the crisis is considered as made and a disaster as a natural calamity.

World book, 2001, Chicago has defined "disaster as a sudden regrettable event that affects many people". It includes natural occurrences such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, famine, etc. It also has man-made calamities such as bomb blasts, accidents, looting and rioting during communal riots, etc. 

The following are some of the essential features of disaster management:

1. Disaster Management Teams: - Worldwide, governments, business and non-business organizations are setting up disaster or crisis management teams to manage the disaster. The disaster management teams are broadly divided into three parts, namely (1) The Policy Team, (2) The management Team (3) The Liaison Team.

2. Systematic Planning: - Disaster management involves systematic planning to avert a disaster, and if it occurs, then systematic planning is required to overcome the crisis arising out of the catastrophe; disaster planning indicates what to do when to do it, how to do and who is to do certain activities to manage and overcome the problems of disaster.

3. Organizing of Resources: - Disaster Management requires properly organising resources such as manpower, materials, funds, etc., to deal with the calamity. Adequate organizing of resources will help the disaster management personnel overcome the problems caused by the catastrophe or disaster.

4. Training to Manpower: - To manage a disaster effectively, there is a need to provide proper training to the disaster management personnel. The training will help develop and improve Disaster Management skills in the personnel. Exercise may help to avert a disaster effectively.

5. Suitability: - Disaster Management is required before and after a disaster. Before the disaster, it is suitable to avert a catastrophe, caution the people and take proper appropriate measures before the disaster strikes. Disaster Management is also very much required after a disaster takes place to undertake rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures during floods and earthquakes.

6. Stability: - Normally, disaster management teams lack stability. They are formed just before a disaster to avert it whenever possible. However, in advanced countries such as in USA, UK, Japan, etc., some organizations include more or less permanent Disaster Management teams.

7. Organisation Structure: - Robert F. Littlejohn, in his paper on 'Crisis Management', suggested a matrix organization structure to deal with disaster or crisis in the organization or in the city or country. The disaster management team is to be headed by a crisis manager.

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10 Techniques of Disaster Management 

The following techniques of Disaster Management can help reduce the damage.

1. Prevention is better than cure. Disaster prevention is the first and foremost thing one can do. Be prepared according to natural disasters according to the locality/area. Know the hazards in your area and know the risk. The information about natural hazards, their occurrence and effect, should be understood according to the location, region, etc. Geographical information systems (GIS) play a crucial role in this criterion.

2. Social media is a great tool nowadays; use it. Social networks can help communicate with those aware and can help you before or during a disaster.

3. Know about your nearby community officials and government servants. They can help you and your neighbours evacuate the place and announce a 'mandatory evacuation' in the hazard-prone area.

4. Identify your nearest local media sources to provide valuable information and use safety measures for people living in the area.

5. Make sure you have a stock of a first aid kit or a go-kit that helps you and your family during a disaster. Make sure you have a stockpile of medication, food and enough water for at least 3 days during the disaster.

6. To make sure you are not affected by the hazards, be in touch with any of your friends or relatives who stay far from you or from the disaster-hit area. So that when you are evacuated, you are least affected in any terms.

7. Raising your home, buying flood insurance, and securing heavy furniture to the walls are part of mitigation. This helps reduce or eliminate the impact caused by the disasters.

8. Make sure you are adaptable to the environment or surrounding that you are evacuated to so that no day of your work is missed out if it takes a long time for your previous area where you have lived to cope with the disaster effect.

9. Using remote sensors in natural hazard assessments with the help of satellites or sensors mounted to aircraft. They are accommodating in showing the evidence for the occurrence and presence of the disasters according to the geographical, geological and hydrologic and natural phenomena.

10. Public awareness is the most important one in disaster management. Development, planning and management will only be possible with the people being aware of the natural hazards and safety measures to be followed during or before a disaster. The study or knowledge of disaster management helps make good decisions regarding buying homes, building and living in hazard-prone areas.

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Disaster Management Regulatory Framework in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's regulative framework for disaster management provides for the relevant legislative, policy and best practice framework under which the activity of Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management in Bangladesh is managed and implemented. The framework includes:

Disaster Management Act, 2012

A Disaster Management Act was enacted to create the legislative tool under which disaster and emergency management will be undertaken in Bangladesh and the legal basis on which activities and actions are being managed. It establishes mandatory obligations and responsibilities on Ministries, committees and appointments.  

National Disaster Management Policy, 2015

National Disaster Management Policy, 2015 is formulated to define the national perspective on disaster risk reduction and emergency management and describe the strategic framework and national principles of disaster management in Bangladesh. It is strategic and represents the broad national objectives and strategies in disaster management. 

Disaster Management Plans

The Bangladesh National Plan for Disaster Management is a strategic document effective for a specific time. This umbrella plan provides the overall guideline for the relevant sectors and disaster management committees to prepare and implement their area of roles particular plans. The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) is the focal ministry for disaster risk reduction and emergency management planning. 

Standing Orders on Disaster 

The Standing Orders on Disaster describes the detailed roles and responsibilities of committees, Ministries and other organizations in disaster risk reduction and emergency management and establishes the necessary actions required in implementing Bangladesh's Disaster Management Model. The Standing Orders have been prepared to make the concerned persons understand their duties and responsibilities regarding disaster management at all levels and accomplish them. All Ministries, Divisions/Departments and Agencies shall prepare their own Action Plans regarding their responsibilities under the Standing Orders for efficient implementation. The National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) and inter- Ministerial Disaster Management Coordination Committee (IMDMCC) ensure coordination of disaster-related activities at the National level. Coordination at District, Upazila levels will be done by the respective District, Upazila and Union Disaster Management Committees. The Department of Disaster Management renders all assistance to them by facilitating the process. 

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National Plan for Disaster Management in Bangladesh

The National Plan for Disaster Management (2010-2015)  is prepared by the Disaster Management and Relief Division. The Plan is used to:

a) Articulate the long-term strategic focus of disaster management in Bangladesh.

b) Demonstrate a commitment to address critical issues: risk reduction, capacity building, information management, climate change adaptation, livelihood security, issues of gender and the socially disadvantaged, etc.

c) Show the relationship between the government vision, key result areas, goals and strategies, and align priorities and procedures with international and national drivers for change.

d) Detail a road map for various entities' development of disaster management plans.

e) Guide the MoDMR former DMRD in developing and delivering guidelines and programmes.

f) Illustrate to other ministries, NGOs, civil society and the private sector how their work can contribute to the achievements of the strategic goals and government vision on disaster management.

g) Provide a framework to report performance and success in achieving goals and strategies.

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Mainstreaming Risk Reduction – The Strategies

Mainstreaming risk reduction efforts within government, NGOs, and the private sector is the key to achieving sustainable hazards risk reduction interventions across the whole country. In Bangladesh, mainstreaming is seen in much the same light as poverty reduction in that it is the outcome of many top-down and bottom-up interventions. 

a) Advocacy: Awareness raising among Political. Senior Policy and Government Department Officials, Media and Academic Institutions is a priority strategy for building knowledge and understanding of the benefits of risk reduction and the roles these organizations play in implementing risk reduction programmes.

b) Policy and Planning Reform: A significant review of disaster management and development planning policy is being undertaken to facilitate mainstreaming and promote a comprehensive risk reduction culture.

c) Capacity Building: This strategy has targeted a complete review of the roles and responsibilities of disaster management committees (DMCs) at all levels to ensure they reflect risk reduction and emergency response functions. A national training curriculum is being developed to ensure that committees receive capacity-building training to effectively fulfil their roles. Effecting Frameworks: Disaster management planning is being significantly overhauled to ensure that DMC plans to accommodate risk reduction mainstreaming at all levels. 

d) Uniform CRA Guidelines: Uniform CRA processes are being established to ensure consistency in community risk identification and compatibility with the risk reduction planning processes of the respective DMCs. The guidelines also have steps to ensure strong linkages with scientific analysis information.

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Disaster Management Regulatory Organizations in Bangladesh

Disaster Management Bureau 

Disaster Management Bureau was established in 1993 under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief of the Government of Bangladesh. After only a few months after the disastrous FLOOD of 1988, on 29 April 1991, a catastrophic CYCLONE and tidal surge occurred. After these two NATURAL HAZARDS, an urge was felt widely in the country and abroad to protect against disasters, and the Bureau was established accordingly.

The main objectives of the Bureau are: to reduce the casualties of lives and property due to hazards and achieve self-reliance and sustainable development through proper utilization of natural resources in post-disaster situations. Its main activities are: to design preparatory works for disaster-prone districts, up to Upazila and union level; conduct training programmes to increase mass awareness; coordinate disaster management activities; collect concerned disaster data and build a database; prepare the duty schedules regarding disasters as a specialist office of the government.

As Bureau Chief, Director General preserves the power of taking all decisions under the direct administrative control of the ministry. Foreign and local consultants and four directors assist him in intake decisions. The revenue budget of the Bangladesh government and the financial assistance of UNDP and UNICEF meet the expenditure of the Bureau.

Disaster Management Bureau has no organizational establishment or structures at the field level. For conducting district, Upazila and union level activities, the Bureau seeks assistance from the Deputy Commissioner of the districts, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, Upazila Project Implementation Officer and Chairman of the union councils. It also has joint programmes with different NGOs. [Masud Hasan Chowdhury]

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Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR)

In post-liberation Bangladesh in 1972, two separate ministries were established: the Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation and the Ministry of Food.

In 1982, after merging these two ministries, two separate divisions (the food division and the relief and rehabilitation division) were initiated under the Ministry of Food.

In 1988, the Relief and Rehabilitation division was named the Ministry of Relief.

In 1994, the Ministry of Relief was established as the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

In 2004, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and the Ministry of Food were merged and renamed the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management.

In 2009, two divisions (the food and disaster management and relief divisions) were initiated under the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management.

In 2012, the Disaster Management and Relief Division was transformed into the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

VISION: "The disaster management vision of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is to reduce the risk of people, especially the poor and the disadvantaged, from the effects of natural, environment and human-induced hazards to a manageable and acceptable humanitarian level and to have in place an efficient emergency response management system."

MISSION: The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) has been mandated to drive national risk reduction reform programmes. Its mission relative to this agenda is: "To achieve a paradigm shift in disaster management from conventional response and relief to a more comprehensive risk reduction culture and promote food security as an important factor in ensuring the resilience of communities to hazards."

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Department of Disaster Management (DDM)

The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief was set up in November 2012 following the Disaster Management Act 2012. The Department has the mandate to implement the objectives of the Disaster Management Act by reducing the overall vulnerability from different impacts of disaster by undertaking risk reduction activities; conducting humanitarian assistance programs efficiently to enhance the capacity of the poor and disadvantaged as well as strengthening and coordinating programmes undertaken by various government and non-government organizations related to disaster risk reduction and emergency response. DDM is responsible for executing the directions and recommendations by the government in connection with disaster management and the national disaster management principles and planning.

DDM, headed by the Director-General, focuses on networking and collaborating with the various Ministries, Departments and Scientific, Technical, Research, Academic institutions, Development Partners, UN Agencies and non-government Organizations within and outside the government working on multiple aspects of disaster risk reduction and response management.

DDM conducts research, organizes workshops and training programmes, publishes its reports and documents and provides various policy advisory services to the concerned Ministry of the Government of Bangladesh.

DDM has the vision to be recognized as a vibrant centre of excellence for knowledge, research and capacity building on disaster management for Disaster Management professionals across levels.

VISION: The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) would be a vibrant department of excellence for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) mainstreaming into the Disaster Management Programme; vulnerability reduction of people, especially the poor and disadvantaged, from different impacts of disasters; knowledge, research and capacity building on the whole cycle of disaster management in the light of DM act 2012.

MISSION: The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) would serve the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to implement the objectives of the Disaster Management Act 2012 by undertaking risk reduction activities; responding to disaster events efficiently as well as strengthening and coordinating programs undertaken by different stakeholders related to DRR and DRM.

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