Strengthening Earthquake Resilience in Bangladesh (SERB) E-Newsletter
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Strengthening Earthquake Resilience in Bangladesh (SERB) E-Newsletter Activities up to June 2015 Photo by: ADPC TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Overview of the SERB program 2. Bangladesh and Earthquake vulnerability 3. SERB locations and fault lines in Bangladesh 4. Updates on SERB interventions A. HOPE/HICS Training B. Risk Assessments C. Simulations D. Capacity-building for Urban Volunteers E. Provision of Essential Search and Rescue Materials 1 Overview of the To strengthen earthquake preparedness and response capacity, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) along with technical SERB support from Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) launched the Strengthening Earthquake Resilience in Bangladesh (SERB) program. This program program is meant to assist the Government of Bangladesh to improve their earthquake response skills by building capacity of emergency response agencies. The program will enhance the capacity 16 public hospitals in Chittagong, Dhaka, Gazipur, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Tangail by providing training on Hospital Preparedness for Emergencies (HOPE) and Training for Instructors (TFI). HOPE focuses on improving capacity of hospitals and healthcare facilities to manage emergencies and mass casualty incidents. Participants learn the use of triage and patient referral protocols for management of emergency cases. 2 The program also includes specialized The program will equip the Fire Service courses on Hospital Incident Command and Civil Defense (FSCD) volunteers System (HICS) for hospitals of Dhaka, with tools including search and rescue Chittagong and Sylhet. HICS is a new equipment, first aid kits and steel course in Bangladesh and it will assist storage containers that are needed to hospital management to adapt to this respond to emergencies and conduct new concept to manage mass casualty rescue efforts. The FSCD will develop a incidents in the hospital. After far three maintenance plan for the equipment and HICS courses have been completed in the volunteers will have access to them Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet with 78 in the event of earthquake or other participants (45 male and 33 female) and hazards. ADPC will organize advanced most of the hospitals in Dhaka, training on search and rescue for 920 Chittagong and Sylhet activated HICS in volunteers in thirty batches in all six cities their settings after completing HICS and towns. The volunteers will be courses. The SERB team has been selected from the areas where the steel conducting risk assessments in the containers with essential search and hospitals in order to develop an rescue materials are located. emergency response plan for better management during disasters. Photo by: ADPC ADPC organized Hospital Preparedness for Emergencies (HOPE) Basic Training for the public hospital of Dhaka City, 2015. 3 Bangladesh is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world, mainly due Bangladesh and to its high population density, low-lying deltaic geography, and location within an active monsoon and tropical cyclone basin. According to The United Nation’s Earthquake World Risk Report (2012), Bangladesh ranks fifth on the list of countries most VULNERABILITY prone to natural disasters in the world. Devastating tropical cyclones and floods are frequent in the country. Although there is no evidence of severe earthquakes in Bangladesh in recent decades, the earthquake risk in the country is very high due to the country's location at the nexus of two major tectonic elements of the ongoing Indian-Eurasian plate collision. Several major active faults, including the Plate Boundary Fault (the northern extension of subduction fault), Madhupur Fault and the Dauki Fault also cross in the country. Research reveals that these faults are able to generate earthquakes over a magnitude of eight on the Richter scale (CDMP, 2009). Photo by: ADPC 4 The Bangladesh Meteorological Major causes behind such an ever- Department detected at least 90 increasing earthquake risk include earthquakes taking place in this region haphazard urbanization and between May 2007 and July 2008, nine sub-standard construction of buildings of them were magnitude five on the and other infrastructure without taking Richter scale. According to underlying earthquake risks into seismologists and earthquake scientists, account. Studies show that a strong these minor tremors are indicators of the earthquake affecting a major urban possibility of much more powerful center like Dhaka, Chittagong or Sylhet earthquakes in Bangladesh that may may result in widespread damage; high result in severe damage and massive numbers of fatalities; and destruction of destruction with severe consequences buildings, infrastructure and utility for the entire country (Ferdousi, 2010). services (CDMP, 2009). A strong earthquake can quickly overwhelm the Earthquake risk is comparatively high in conventional response efforts, and urban centers in Bangladesh, and is currently available resources and growing with every passing moment capacities. because of the unabated growth of human settlements and other economic activities. Photo by: ADPC ADPC trained Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence volunteers in Dhaka on search and rescue with equipment provided by the SERB program. 5 LOW HAZARD SERB LOCATIONS and MODERATE FAULT LINES HAZARD in Bangladesh The maps present SERB interventions in relation to fault lines which represents earthquake Seismic Hazard Map of Bangladesh (Source: GSAHP, ASC) HIGH vulnerable zones. Map 1: Map HAZARD showing SERB locations in relation to fault lines, Map 2: Hazard Map of Bangladesh showing hazards and frequency, Map 3: Earthquake zone Map of Bangladesh outlines the LEGEND areas vulnerable to earthquake. ZONE 1 ZONE 2 ZONE 3 Earthquake Zone Map of Bangladesh (Source: Banglapedia) 6 CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES Updates on 5+/,&0(.",."!*"//#+.)".$"* &"/ #+ 1/"/+*&),.+2&*$0%" , &04+#%+/,&0(/*!%"(0% ."# &(&0&"/&* +.!".0+,.",."0%")0+)*$"")".$"* &"/*!)// /1(04&* &!"*0/*! 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Photo by: ADPC Simulation Exercise in Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital (SOMCH) in April, 2015 8+.,&/(&.'.."..)"*/orkshops and Emergency Response Plans Hospital Risk Assessments have been which was conducted based on the conducted in eight hospitals in Dhaka, Hospital Safety Index, established by Chittagong and Sylhet – this chapter the World Health Organization and Pan summarizes the outcomes of two of American Health Organization. The these workshops. results of the risk assessment will be endorsed by the hospital authority. ADPC conducted a Hospital Risk Assessment Workshop on 8–9 March A similar workshop was conducted on 2015 at Chittagong Medical College 9–10 March 2015 at Chittagong General Hospital, bringing together experts and Hospital, which was upgraded to a practitioners to discuss and finalize the 250-bed facility in February 2012. The first hospital risk assessment for the city. hospital was established in 1901 and started a medical school in 1927. It is The workshop brought together 32 situated in the hilly area of Rang Mohler medical practitioners from various Pahar serving population from around disciplines, including persons trained Chittagong. The workshop gathered 25 under ADPC's courses on Hospital medical practitioners and Preparedness for Emergencies (HOPE) representatives from the different and Hospital Incident Command System departments of the hospital, including (HICS). Practitioners and experts graduates from ADPC's Hospital participated in the assessment process, Preparedness for Emergencies and Hospital Incident Command System Photo by: ADPC A group discussion took place during an assessment exercise in Kurmitola courses. The workshop was conducted General Hospital. 9 Another photo: Hospital visit during Hospital Risk Assessment to idetifying risk factors of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. using the Hospital Safety Index and and First Aid. The courses enhanced the the findings of the risk assessment participants' knowledge and skills will be approved by the hospital especially on using collapsed structure authority for further development of search and rescue, fire fighting and first the facility. aid equipment and tools. This is linked to a previously conducted course on Urban The workshop was conducted by Community-level Training Course, which using Hospital Safety Index, most volunteers had already taken. It is established by World Health determined that community volunteers Organization and Pan American can be assigned as first responders for Health Organization. The findings of any incident especially in the risk assessment will be approved earthquake-prone cities of Bangladesh.