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A People Centered Early Warning system specifically designed to address the needs of selected fishing communities in Cox’s Bazaar
The project addresses the need for sufficient lead time on warnings of rough sea events through satellite-based weather signals. This enables fishermen to make sound decisions for their journeys back to shore.
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WHAT IS THE HUMANITARIAN NEED?
Weak existing early warning systems (EWS) in Cox’s Bazar District that fail to provide reliable and timely life-saving information.
Lack of satellite-based weather signals to allow sufficient time on warnings of rough sea events.
Lack of digital tracking of fishing vessels to allow for more efficient and precise rescue missions in the event of capsizing.
Storms/rough weather conditions in the Bay of Bengal resulting in loss of lives/livelihood, damage to property, and high dependency on humanitarian response among coastal communities in Cox’s Bazar.
Weak community capacity in early warning and disaster risk reduction (DRR) resulting in a reactive, rather than proactive, approach to disaster.
WHAT IS THE INNOVATIVE SOLUTION?
Introduction and implementation of a digital early warning system through General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) for improved tracking fishing vessels and disseminating early warning messages to fishermen. In combination with community-based DRR measures, this product supports communities, private sector partners, local/national level GoB to establish an effective an EWS for poor coastal fishing communities that is expected to be transferred to local and national institutions for scale-up.
The digital tracking of fishing vessels allows for more efficient and precise rescue missions in the event of capsizing.
This innovation helps to protect the lives and livelihoods of fishermen who are vulnerable to frequent and severe weather events at sea. By providing timely and reliable early warning information, loss of lives and damage to property, and thus the need for humanitarian response, is reduced. Community capacity in early warning and DRR is being strengthened through training and adoption of this system, thereby promoting a proactive rather than reactive approach to disaster.
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES?
The project targets 300 boats and approximately 3,000 fishermen residing in 24 communities of Cox’s Bazar District in the Bay of Bengal – home to approximately 20,000 people who will benefit from education and training on DRR and EWS. CARE will collect and disseminate learning through Monitoring & Evaluation workshops and meetings with relevant stakeholders and will conduct evidence-based advocacy to raise awareness at sub-national and national levels amongst fishing communities, GoB and the private sector.
Latest Updates
Progress Report on infrastructure of EW Dissemination System
6 Oct 2014
CARE Bangladesh team is monitoring this development process, as well as helping the partners as required. At field level, the CARE team is meeting with the various stakeholders including district administration officials, local government bodies, the boat owners’ association and its direct beneficiaries to keep them updated on present progress.
In July 2013, the project team visited the CARE SHOUHARDO II program’s existing community platforms like Village Development Committees (VDCs) and Empowerment, Knowledge and Transformative Action (EKATA) groups.
Server development for early warning dissemination in progress
01 Aug 2014
The Telecommunication service provider AirTel Bangladesh Ltd, in association with CARE Bangladesh, has conducted a feasibility study on the proposed device life cycle.
The revised paperwork in the prescribed format together with the revised proposal and Letter of Intent from HIF was submitted to the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) for approval at the beginning of the month.
Operations were fully resumed after the national elections and the project team initiated steps to revise the relevant paperwork for submission to the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) based on HIF’s approval of the revisions and the conditional agreement to extend the project beyond its current stipulated end date.
Both CARE and Comprehensive Disaster Management Program (CDMP) were awaiting approval to begin implementation of their respective early warning systems projects.
The month of September 2013 was spent in a series of meetings and discussions to explore collaboration with Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) and the Comprehensive Disaster Management Program (CDMP) Bangladesh, while attempts were made to meet the Joint Secretary of Disaster Management & Relief.
Review of project activities in light of revisions to 'Disaster Management Act’ 2012
26 Aug 2013
As a follow-up to the partners meeting held on the 28th of July 2013, the project team reviewed project activities against the clauses in the Disaster Management Act 2012.
In order to gauge the interest of the fisher community considering the delays in implementation; the project team undertook a survey to determine the status of the 50 units of the Vehicle Tracking Service (VTS) that was installed as part of a small scale pilot initiative in 2011.
While efforts are on-going to seek approval from the Bangladesh NGO Affairs Bureau, the project team is also exploring alternative solutions by reviewing the early warning framework in place.
CARE finalised the selection processes in March 2013 and Systems Solutions and Development Technologies Ltd. (SSDTL) were shortlisted to supply the digital device which would be installed in 300 fishing trawlers.
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