Norweigian State Secretary Visits BRAC in Bangladesh

BRAC's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and the newly created Disaster, Environment, and Climate Change (DECC) programs in Bangladesh hosted Hakon Arald Gulbrandsen, the Norwegian State Secretary for International Affairs this past Sunday.

Secretary Gulbrandsen's trip enabled him to get a close look at the various activities BRAC is carrying out in areas devastated by Cyclone Sidr in November 2007, with deaths estimated between 5,000 to 10,000 and damages estimated at $1.7 billion. A combination of internal funding and the generous help of a broad base of donors helped BRAC raise $2.47 million for its relief efforts.

On his visit to the cyclone rehabilitation programs, Secretary Gulbrandsen observed operations involving pond sand filters, which provide safe drinking water, and multi-purpose cyclone shelter being built to protect livestock during severe storms. We are happy to say he approved of both.

He was also impressed by what he saw of BRAC's agricultural demonstration projects, especially by the fact that BRAC is already preparing local communities to adapt to the present and future impact of climate change. According to Dr. Babar Kabir, director of our WASH and DECC programs, the Norwegian State Secretary was also heartened to see women playing a substantial role in rural development and gradually joining the workforce.

Secretary Gulbrandsen talked about climate change and its impacts as perceived by the local people. He also spoke with those affected by Sidr about their experience during the cyclone and how they are gradually returning to their normal lives, expressing his condolences to the families that had lost close relatives to Sidr.

The Daily Star reports Mr. Gulbrandsen was visiting Bangladesh with a focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation, and women and gender and labor market issues. It also reports that "this visit will provide opportunities for reviewing some of the results in the field as well as set the course for the future bilateral relations between the two countries."

Click here to read the full article in The Daily Star.