Persons with disabilities are often overlooked and left behind in disasters due to the marginalization they face in many aspects of life. Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) seeks to address this problem through its inclusive work. ASB aims to strengthen the capacities of individuals, communities, and decision-makers to create positive change, including empowering people to take action and create positive changes. The Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), with support from ASB Indonesia and the Philippines, has realized this through the “Strengthening Resilience in South and Southeast Asia by Integrating Risk Management, Social Inclusion, and Socio-Economic Development (SRSSEAIRMSISED)” Project in Bangladesh.
This project was implemented in Rayenda Union Village, one of the most disaster-prone and poverty-stricken areas in Sarankhola Upazila, Bangladesh. Due to widespread poverty in the communities, the population is often unable to implement mitigation strategies (e.g., strengthening/retrofitting of houses, safe storage of equipment and consumer goods). In many cases, even negative coping strategies are applied. In light of these problems, the SRSSEAIRMSISED project has distributed mitigation tools for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), including tools for rainwater harvesting, generating solar energy/renewable energy, and waste reduction. The objective of this plan was to support the adaptation mechanisms of at least 300 identified poor women and households with disabilities in Bangladesh.
The output of this project was the compilation of best practices and interventions. The project aimed to develop a well-organized, disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation mechanism focusing on supporting the most at-risk households of people with disabilities and disadvantaged women in Rayenda Union. For more details, see our fact sheet, which you can access through this link: _____. This fact sheet can also be used as a reference to design DRR/CCA interventions in other regions.
