Friendship signs MOU with Cyclone Preparedness Programme of the Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief
To further strengthen the disaster risk management and preparedness in the cyclone battered regions to the south of the country, Friendship along with Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP), which is headed by the Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief, signed a Memorandum of Understanding whereby Friendship and CPP will jointly train the volunteers in cyclone affected coastal areas of Bangladesh.
The CPP has vast knowledge and expertise in the area of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. They also have around 50,000 volunteers in the coastal districts of Bangladesh, some of which are engaged in Friendship’s working area. Through this partnership Friendship jointly with CPP will organise a training programme for the volunteers to enhance their knowledge, skill and capacity in basic disaster management. The main responsibilities of the volunteers will be to disseminate early warning, shelter management, first aid, facility search, and rescue & relief operation activities in their respective units. These volunteers are officially registered with the CPP. The CPP will also follow-up with the volunteers regarding the training they received.
The main subject matters of the training module are:
• Disaster, disaster terminology, types of disaster and disaster management
• Introduction to cyclones and their classifications
• Earth Quake & Tsunami
• Early warning Signals
• Standing Order on Disaster ( SOD)
• Roles and Responsibilities of Volunteers
• Climate Change, its effects and adaptation
• First Aid
• Search and Rescue
• Awareness and welfare activities
This training module has already been published jointly by Friendship and CPP. Friendship along with the support of CPP facilitated the training on first aid, search and rescue for 235 volunteers in 6 batches in the Kalapara Upazila under Patuakhali District. This training started on 17th of May 2014 and was successfully completed on the 5th of June 2014. Rescue materials will be provided to the volunteers upon consultation with the CPP authorities.