Equality, dignity based partnership demanded

Staff Correspondent: Bangladeshi national NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) demanded equality and dignity based partnership for sustainable capacity in disaster risk reduction and response.

34 Bangladeshi national and local NGOs working on the issue of humanitarian response raised the demands while addressing a seminar, organised at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium in the capital on Wednesday.

The seminar titled Bangladeshi NGOs on World Humanitarian Summit: Partnership Based on Equality and Dignity for Sustainable Capacity for Disaster Risk Reduction and Response organizers also gave their concern for effectiveness and innovations on the humanitarian activities.

The seminar was moderated by Rezaul Karim Cowdhury of COAST Trust while Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman, PKSF and Md. Shah Kamal, Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief were also present among others on the occasion.

Mr. Jeremy Wellard, representative from the regional office of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) in Bangkok was present as the special guest.

The seminar was jointly organized mainly by SSS, SKS, FDA, NIRAPAD, PIDIM, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, TMSS, Palli Mangal Karmasuchi, Wave Foundation, Brac, RDRS, ASA, ISDI, ORA, Sajida Foundation, Sangram, Sankalpo Trust, SDI, DSK, RIC, Dak Diye Jai, Dwip Unnayan Sangstha, Pirojpur Gono Unnayan Samity, PRADIPAN, UDDIPAN, NDP and COAST Trust. These 34 NGOs organized themselves for participation in the WHS (World Humanitarian Summit) discourse as declared by UN, the South and Central Asia regional consultation will be held in Tazakistan during July 2015 and global summit will be happened in Istanbul May 2016.

The group conducted field level consultations and individual interviews in 16 districts of Bangladesh on various issues of Natural Disaster. In a total of 3500 people from various sections took part in the process.

Mr Azim of SDI presented the summary of the findings form field level, major points in this regard are as follows, national NGOs should be considered as partner rather than sub contractors, international NGOs should not compete with national NGOs for project and funding in national level, institutional and capacity building funding should be given to national NGOs for sustainable local level capacities.

They have also mentioned slow on set disaster like drought, salinity, and river erosion received little attention from donors.

Findings also said that Red Crescent volunteerism should be depoliticised, there should be capacity building in local government level for coordination in respect of humanitarian actions.

They also demanded that there should internal displacement policy and UN should come up with new protocol for climate and disaster displaced people.

Ministry Secretary Md. Shah Kamal said, "We are confident that our capacities have been strengthened in natural disaster management like cyclone, now we have to prepare ourselves of earthquake."

Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said, this WHS discourse should also be linked to climate summit and UN initiative on sustainable development goals.

He also emphasized that Bangladeshi National NGOs should reflect Bangladeshi poor voice in global level as because these poor is not responsible for this fate.

Mr Jeremy Wallard of UN OCHA Asia said that, Bangladeshi NGO`s voice in WHS process is important as it is the country that faces most brunt of the natural disasters.

risingbd/ DHAKA/ May 27, 2015/ Shafiq/ Mahfuz