Bangladesh's Sunamganj District is largely an undeveloped area that is highly susceptible to flooding. To improve the lives of the people in this area, it is essential to first reduce the risk of flooding and other natural hazards.

Risk reduction programmes along with access to education, healthcare facilities, employment and income opportunities, including fishing rights, will lead to sustainable development of the district.

This project is also known as Reducing Vulnerability of Local Communities from Natural Hazards through Local Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plans (LDRRAP)

This project operates in two areas in the Sunamganj District in the northeastern corner of Bangladesh.

This area is highly vulnerable to flooding during the monsoon season, and the prevailing natural conditions throughout the year are extremely unfavorable for any form of development.

Most of Sunamganj is a large flood basin which is fills with water for six to seven months a year. Water levels can rise to 13 to 14 feet above ground level and are usually no less than six feet high.

No development in the district can be designed without addressing the number one problem of flooding.

Apart from the risk of flooding, social conservativeness, high social inequality, illiteracy and lack of education coupled with low income and poor nutrition are serious barriers to economic development.

Project Objectives

• Reducing the vulnerability of communities to natural hazards by raising awareness of coping strategies;
• Helping vulnerable communities prepare for natural hazards and respond effectively to floods;
• Supporting and increasing the capacity of Union Disaster Management Committees (UDMC) and other local organisations;
• Developing effective disaster reduction plans;

Project Activities

• Providing training on risk assessment and First Aid to IR staff, partner aid agencies, Union Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Committees and Youth Volunteer Committees;
• Activities to raise public awareness, including publicity and public meetings;
• Training project partners to undertake risk assessments and prepare local disaster risk reduction action plans;
• Networking ;
• Advocacy

"Islamic Relief is striving for a fairer world. Our mission is to help the poor and needy to live sustainable, self-reliant lives within safe and caring communities. Our work is guided and shaped by the core values of accountability, humanitarianism, neutrality and impartiality, inclusiveness, integrity and co-operation, all of which are also integral to the Islamic faith."
Dr Hany El Banna - Founder of Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief was established in 1984 and our unique approach is the result of these many years of hands-on experience.

1. Where possible we adopt a community partnership-based approach; encouraging community involvement, understanding and ownership of projects.
2. We run the majority of our field projects ourselves, giving us direct insight into the problems faced and how best to solve them.
3. We aim to empower those we help in order to achieve sustainable results.
4. Though our emergency response teams are quick to respond to emergencies around the world, we continue to support communities long after the initial media interest has died down.
5. We recruit staff locally to benefit from their local knowledge. This ensures that we are culturally sensitive and allows us to reach communities and areas other organisations cannot.
6. Where necessary we coordinate our work with other reputable aid agencies, local organisations and governments.

Millennium Development Goals

Islamic Relief is committed to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which have been agreed by the world’s leading development institutions in an effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest by the year 2015. 

The goals:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

For more information about the MDGs, please visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/