Reducing vulnerability to disasters is at the heart of ActionAid’s emergencies work. Disasters cost lives, destroy communities, affect people’s ability to make a living and leave a lasting impact not only on physical environment but also on people’s mental well-being.

Reducing vulnerability to disasters in Bangladesh:
Much of Bangladesh is prone to cyclone damage and flooding. During the 1990's, 14 million people were affected every year.

ActionAid Bangladesh has been working since 2001 with poor communities living in the flood prone Char Islands setting up a comprehensive disaster preparedness and emergency response programme. The project is based in the community and has lead to practical initiatives such as:

• training communities to manage emergencies, including first aid and rescue techniques
• developing community volunteers equipped with radios to track information related to disasters
• planning action to be taken in an emergency, including maps displayed prominently on boards so that everyone can access them
• children’s programme on disaster preparedness
• building over 2,000 schools-shelters or multi-purpose cyclone shelters
• tree plantation campaign