Hyogo Framework of Actions for Disaster Preparedness: Bangladesh Perspective

1. Hyogo Framework of Actions for Disaster Preparedness: Bangladesh Perspective
Introduction: In almost every year, a huge number of people are affected from various kinds
of natural disaster like cyclone, flood, drought, earthquake and other various types of hazards.
With the interaction of these hazards to various social, environmental, economic and
physical vulnerabilities, the disaster risk is created (Holmes, 2016). By different natural
disaster, from 2000 to 2005, on an average 240000000 people were affected. It also causes
almost 80 billion dollar loss per year in the last 6 years. So this disaster risk is becoming
concern globally and this concern is increasing day by day. With this, the risk is contributing
to the generation of another risk. This is contributing to the generation of more vulnerable
condition of the people. The factors behind these vulnerabilities are the rapid increase of
global warming, density of population, degradation of environment and so on. These cause
huge loss to a country. From the previous recodes, it has also been found that anyone in
anywhere can be affected by the hazards. In the present world the amount of died people have
been decreased but the number of affected people have been increasing at a higher rate. These
negative impacts can be reduced by the reduction of disaster risk. Also for the sustainable
development, these risks need to be reduced. For decreasing vulnerabilities and for the
reduction of this disaster risk, world have taken action (Matsuoka and Shaw, 2011). The
consequence of this is the hyogo framework for actions which was introduced in 2005.
Hyogo Framework of Actions: Hyogo framework was mainly introduced for the reduction
of this disaster risk with a view to reducing the loss of assets and the loss of valuable human
lives. For the reduction of this disaster risk, it is considered as a global blueprint. (Olowu,
2010). It is a first globally taken strategy for the reduction of disaster risk through providing
different sector work plan in detail. This framework works for the reduction of countries
environmental and socio-economic losses (Zhou et al., 2014). In 2005, for the reduction of
disaster risk, from 18 January to 22 January in Kuba, a world conference was held. The
conference outcome was the declaration of Hyogo framework for action. The plan was taken
for the future ten years for the reduction of disaster risk worldwide with the participation of a
large number of countries (Olowu, 2010). In that time, 162 countries adopted this Hyogo
framework in 2005 for the preceded ten year from 2005-2015. By bringing in the common
coordination system of the bodies like the disaster experts, government, different
international agencies, this framework was introduced in different countries. (Zhou et al.,
2014). This hyogo framework comprises of three strategic goals and five priorities for action.
Strategic Goals of hyogo framework for action: To attain the desired outcome there are
three strategic goals of hyogo framework. Those are presented below-
1. First goal of the hyogo framework is the effective integration of the reduction of different
disaster risk into all levels planning, programming and policies of the sustainable
development. It emphasize on preparation, reduction of vulnerability and mitigation.
2. The second goal is to emphasize on building hazard resilience. For this, all levels
mechanisms, institution; capabilities need to make strengthen and developed.
3. The last goal is to incorporate the approaches of risk reduction to the recovery programme
and emergency preparedness implementation systematically.
Priorities for Action under Hyogo framework: For guiding, there are five priorities for
action under the hyogo framework for action. Those are discussed below-
1. Governance: In the case of hyogo framework, the first priority is given to the reduction
of the disaster risk. At local and national level, the reduction of risk should be ensured.
With this, the basis of strong institution should also be ensured.

2. 2. Risk identification: First we need to gather knowledge about the risks. These are about
monitoring, identifying and accessing the risk. After that, according to the characteristics
of risk the necessary actions need to be taken. The risks can be identified from the
information of statistical loss, through technological development, regional link,
forecasting of climate, through risk assessment and so on.
3. Knowledge: Another priority for action is to create awareness and understanding among
people. The innovation, education and knowledge helps in building culture of resilience
and safety. The risk of disaster may be reduced if people get enough information in time
and if they have the knowledge about what they need to do. Providing correct information
in time, cooperation development among different parties, strengthening management
programme for disaster risk, providing training facility on disaster risk reduction helps in
increasing awareness among people.
4. Reducing risk factor: The risk of various sectors should be reduced. Among the sectors,
there are health, education and construction. For the reduction of these risks, there should
be proper management of environment, ensuring food security, ensuring public facilities,
proper planning of land use, proper planning for rural development and so on.
5. Preparation for act: Another priority is given in ensuring proper response at all levels.
This response can be ensured through strengthening preparedness for disaster. For
strengthening the disaster preparedness, there should be proper allocation of resources
and the increase of institutional and technical capacities.
Hyogo framework and responsible parties with the reduction of disaster risk: With the
collaboration of different parties, the disaster risk can be reduced. Without the cooperation of
these parties, this reduction would be very difficult. The responsible parties are states or
government, regional organization, international organization and ISDR system.
Challenges and gaps: The proper disaster risk identification becomes very difficult in most
of the time. Because of this identification problem, correct measures may not be taken.
Ensuring the cooperation and collaboration of different parties may be very difficult. There is
lack of coordination among different parties. The communities and administrative capabilities
are most of the time very poor.
Hyogo framework of actions for disaster preparedness in case of Bangladesh:
Bangladesh is a risky area. It is often cited for this risk. It is greatly affected by various
natural hazards. It is considered as a hazard prone area because of its geographical location.
Almost eighty percent of the area of Bangladesh which is situated in Ganges delta is
floodplains. With this, the amount of disaster has also been increased mostly because of the
climate change. Among the hazards, cyclone and flood significantly affects to this area in
almost every year. There are also other natural hazards like landslide, drought, stome-surge
and earthquake (Diya and Bussell, 2017). Because of these, huge numbers of people are
badly affected. Programme for promoting disaster preparedness would be very much helpful
in decreasing these disasters and fostering the sustainable development. For this, Bangladesh
had adopted various initiatives. Among these hyogo framework for action is one of them.
This hyogo framework was adopted by Bangladesh in 2005 for the next ten years till 2015. It
has been taken to come out from conventional relief programme to a more comprehensive
disaster risk reduction programme as preparedness for disaster (Ray-Bennett et al., 2010).
Bangladesh has achieved the hyogo framework’s objective significantly. For the Asia pacific,
Bangladesh has achieved more than the regional average score in each category. It has also
succeeded in providing early warning, policy formulation, assessment of risk and effective
response. This success has been achieved through implementing various policy, national
plans, adopting various legal framework and so on (Izumi and Shaw, 2014).

3. Bangladesh in achieving strategic goals of hyogo framework for action for disaster
preparedness:
1. Effective integration of the reduction of different disaster risk into the sustainable
development: Bangladesh has progressed significantly in achieving integration of the
reduction of disaster risk into the sustainable development. It fells significant positive
impact on disaster preparedness, mitigation, vulnerability reduction and prevention of
disaster. In early years, Bangladesh adopted a approach called relief centric which was
only emphasized on giving relief after the disaster. There were no steps taken to reduce
the disaster before hazard came. But now it has shifted from the conventional relief
approach to disaster risk reduction approach. In the period year 2009-2012, NDMC of
Bangladesh approved the revised policy called Standing Order of Disaster. Under this,
there were tasks for reducing the risk of climate and disaster. This task was for agencies,
organizations of civil society, citizens, committees and for private organizations. With
this the necessary budget was allocated called the fund for risk reduction. The programme
for strengthening the capacity of the committee of disaster management(Zakir, 2011).
2. Emphasize on building of resilience to hazard: In the period of adaptation of the hyogo
framework, Bangladesh formed NPDRR that is called National Platform for Disaster Risk
reduction. With this formulation, it started its work as early as possible. This institution
works with the collaboration of different parties. Its work is to reduce the disaster risk
through providing proper guiding. With this, EPAC has been formed to take necessary
steps for the preparedness of earthquake and works for creating awareness among people
both at national and local level. For these it makes campaign and provides different
advertisement for creating awareness and suggesting what people need to do at the time
of hazard. For proper disaster management it has also formulated NDMAC. A huge
number of experts have been employed in each level. Various disaster forums have also
been formulated. So these different mechanism and institutions those were introduced
after adapting the hyogo programme, all are working for reducing the disaster risk as
work for disaster preparedness (Zakir, 2011).
3. To incorporate the approaches of risk reduction to the recovery programme and
emergency preparedness implementation: For forecasting and giving early warning
various institutions has been formulated in Bangladesh. Among these, there are FFWC,
BMD, BWDB, and DMRD. Here FFWC works to forecast about the hazards and provide
warning if necessary. FFWE works in specialized zone. It only works on flood. It
forecast about flood and provide warning in time. For the preparation of facing cyclone
CPP works through providing volunteers. Various training programme is provided to the
people at different level by providing knowledge that what they need to do before the
hazard come and how they can minimize their disaster risk (Zakir, 2011).
Priorities for Action under Hyogo framework in Bangladesh:
1. Governance: For the national and local level risk reduction, Bangladesh has taken
various steps. Like NDMC works for distributing adequate amount of budget at all level.
For this, it is implemented via local government and via various institutional bodies. But
in case of large scale operation, the amount of budget is inadequate (Diya and Bussell,
2017). With this, the coordination among different parties is not so good. However
country has taken measures through campaign and other works to make sure the active
participation of the people. There have been taken significant intervention to reduce the
risk. Now the amount of intervention has increased to sixty thousand. For both national
and local level risk reduction, there have been the introductions of different training
programme at different level. With this, NPDRR have been formulated for the reduction

4. of disaster risk at multi sector. At different level of risk reduction, all the sub-indicators
have achieved 4 in case of progress achievement level (Zakir, 2011).
2. Risk Identification: In the present time, Bangladesh has become successful to improve
the warning system through the technological advancement. Many volunteers and various
mediums are used to disseminate information. There is also plan for the development of
warning system with the use of satellite. Government is also working with different
organizations like USAID and Red Cross for disseminating information about cyclone
preparedness. For this, it has provided training programme to almost sixty five thousand
volunteer(Diya and Bussell, 2017). For risk identification, the preparation for making
risk map has also been started. The maps for the area those are highly drought prone have
been finished. The prediction model for the erosion of river risk. For monitoring of
different hazards various systems have been developed. For providing early warning,
there has been established different microclimate station. With this, five new RADAR
station have also been established. For giving signal in times of cyclone, new signaling
systems will be emerged. For this, the project has been undertaken. With the regional
association, the programme of SAARC STORM has also been undertaken. There is also
the existence of cyclone and flood risk assessment (Zakir, 2011). The progress level of
different sub-indicators of risk identification is same for three and one is different. In risk
assessment of different level, systems introduced for disseminating data and monitor,
systems for giving early warning, the achieved level is 4. Where in the case of reduction
of risk with regional cooperation the achieved level is 3.
3. Knowledge: For the use of knowledge in building safety culture, various international
agencies and local agencies mostly NGOs working to create awareness among the
community people on the different natural hazards. The government has also taken steps
to address the maps at multi stage so that they can make proper plan and create proper
awareness among people. It has become successful with the use of local knowledge at
different level (Zakir, 2011). Bangladesh has also the culture of sharing knowledge
related to disaster. So it shares knowledge through different public discussion, media and
also via other means. It has also working in the development of different types of
technology, policy and programme to create awareness among general people. Various
institutions have been established to provide proper information so that the general people
can prepare for different hazard. Among the institutions, one of the major institutions is
DMIC which is established to provide all types of information related to hazard so that
the people can get the time for the preparedness of disaster .
4. Reducing risk factor: For reducing the risk factor, government has funded a huge
amount of money for the reduction of disaster risk under forest and environment ministry.
Because one of the major factors for hazards is the present world climate change. This
giving funds main objective is to control the climate change. With this for ensuring
proper land use, the proper zoning projects have been undertaken. Because, the improper
land use may lead to create hazard which can be avoided by this proper land use pattern.
For controlling the risk factor, the programme of aforestation, crops with saline tolerance,
development programme for earthquake prone area, proper local development planning
and insurance in crop have also been introduced. But there is failure in urban
management. Also in every year there is huge loss in landslides. But there have been
taken no steps to reduce this loss (Diya and Bussell, 2017).
5. Preparation for act: Government has taken action to make the school, hospital and other
institutions disaster resilient. For the old buildings it has also taken action for retrofitting.
To increases the safety, government has taken different projects. With the help of
different parties, government has taken various steps for the preparedness of disaster. It
also works to give training to prove knowledge among the general people about the

5. disaster preparedness. For earthquake preparedness, it has introduced programme to
provide training to different parities about it. More than thirty thousand volunteer are
engaged for providing these training. It also provides knowledge about the role of
different parties by providing proper guideline through different programme .To the
armed force of Bangladesh, proper training programme has been provided so that they
can participate to reduce disaster (Diya and Bussell, 2017).
Challenges faced by Bangladesh: For implementing hyogo framework, Bangladesh has
faced various challenges. Among these, there are lack of adequate funds in case of taking
large projects, lack of coordination among the stockholders, lack of efficiency in the effective
implementation of the projects or programmes, corruption in the use of funds. It would be
very difficult to collect the necessary information for identifying risk and proper action for
those risks. Because of the corruption, the provided funds maximum utilizations may not be
possible. With these there is lack of coordination among banks, international organization and
different NGOs. The government works with the influence of different politicians where the
other organizations may not want to be influenced in it. So there is mismatch between them
which adversely affects on activities
Recommendations: Bangladesh needs to enhance its accountability in case of using funds
and monitoring different activities. The cooperation among different parties needs to be
ensured. The work would be done more easily than before. Proper time and wealth should be
allocated for each work so that it can be completed in time and all the related people can get
advantage.
In conclusion, it can be said that Bangladesh have implemented the hyogo framework
successfully. But in implementing this, it has also faced soe challenges. For this, government
need to take proper steps to overcome those challenges.
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