Desk Report:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a brand new multi-purpose disaster shelter and school building at Bogachotor Government Primary School in Cox’s Bazar.

The new facility is one of 25 multi-purpose disaster shelters built in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban districts under a current $13 million USAID-funded project implemented by CARE Bangladesh, Save the Children, GRAUS, and local construction partners, according to a press release of USAID.

USAID Mission Director Reed Aeschliman and Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) Md. Kamrul Hasan jointly inaugurated the shelter on Sunday (28 January).

The three-storied shelter can protect up to 500 people during cyclones, floods and other disasters while doubling as a modern school building. The shelter also features a first aid room with a hospital bed, a wheelchair-accessible ramp, shower facilities, a tube well and a rainwater harvesting system, and generates backup electricity via solar power.

The additional 25 facilities built under this newest phase of construction will provide emergency shelter for over 11,500 people and accommodate a total of 3,500 students. The classrooms are equipped with modern furniture and amenities to enhance the learning experience for students, and the shelter will also function as an Expanded Program on Immunization vaccination centre and provide other local government extension services.

During his speech as the chief guest, Secretary Md Kamrul Hasan expressed that the mission and vision of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief in building resilient communities and managing disaster risks is complimented by this kind of initiatives, and this has been possible for the systematic approach of Disaster Risk Management which has become possible because of the support of our honourable prime minister Sheikh Hasina and the complimentary support of our development partners like USAID and NGO partners like CARE Bangladesh, GRAUS, Save the Children, etc.

“This new facility symbolizes the partnership between the United States and Bangladesh in helping people overcome disasters and enabling them to build more resilient and prosperous futures for themselves,” said USAID Mission Director Reed Aeschliman.

In his closing remarks as the chair of the event, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Fakhrul Islam expressed gratitude to USAID and the American people for their support to a remote corner of the world, emphasizing the crucial role in sustaining elementary education and protecting lives during natural disasters. He called for continued collaboration for such endeavours.

Since 2001, USAID has built over 900 multi-purpose disaster shelters in Bangladesh that protect over 700,000 people living in areas most prone to cyclones, flooding, landslides, and other natural disasters