Islamic Relief Bangladesh Response to Search & Rescue Operation at Savar

Islamic Relief Bangladesh responded for victims of Savar and extended its support to the coordinated search & rescue operation at Savar, Rana Plaza, site of the collapsed building. IRB emergency response team members coordinated with the Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD) representatives for the emergency requirements to strengthen their Search & Rescue operation. Based on their feedback and urgency IRB purchased some of the materials as well as equipments which were requested on urgent basis.

IRB response team visited the spot at 2^nd day (1^st day was totally closed by the law enforcement authority) to observe the situation closely and decided this situation as emergency. Next three days IRB continued the support and regularly communicated with FSCD.

For search & rescue operation IRB supported the FSCD with a series of equipments as follows;

SL	Delivered Items	Quantity
	Hand Gloves	200 pairs
	D-welding rotary rescue saw blade, metal cutter	2 packets
	Safety Goggles	200 pcs
	Dust Masks	500 pcs
	Medical Masks	200 pcs
	Latex Gloves	10 pairs
	10” Wrench	6 pcs
	18” Pipe Wrench	6 pcs
	Electric Pliers	15 pcs
10.	Heavy Helmets	100 pcs
11.	Rotary rescue saw diamond disc	10 pcs
12.	Electric Rotary rescue saw machine	2 pcs
13.	Chipping Hammer (6lbs)	10 pcs
14.	Hammer Bit (18mm)	30 pcs
15.	Air Freshener	110 pcs
16.	Electric Drill Machine	15 pcs
17.	Light helmet	150
18.	Torch light	35
19.	Sun light Battery	105
20.	Hydraulic Jack (32 ton)	3
21.	Dust Mask	150
22.	Hacksaw blade	50
23.	Hacksaw blade frame	30
24.	Manila rope, 2” dia, 140’ long	10
25.	Manila rope, 2”dia, 40’ long	10
26.	Rotary Recue Saw (metal cutter)	14

For more detail news please visit : http://www.islamic-relief.com/NewsRoom/4-632-ir-supports-garment-factory-rescue-mission-and-says-tragedy-is-a-wake-up-call-for-earthquake-prone-dhaka.aspx

or http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.455484904525778.1073741841.281478558593081&type=1

Prime Minister Observed Mock Drill at FSCD Training Complex

The Fire Service & Civil Defence (FSCD) Directorate celebrated the FSCD Week on 18^th – 24^th November at the FSCD training complex, Mirpur, Dhaka. Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the event as she observed a mock simulation drill arranged by the FSCD troupes and the urban community volunteers.

As part of the mock drill, seven infrastructural props were constructed on the venue which were destroyed during the simulation to demonstrate the impact of an earthquake to the audience as the FSCD fire fighters with their trained urban community volunteers performed search and rescue operation, emergency camp management and first aid support for the affected people.

In her inaugural speech, the Prime Minister mentioned that 62,000 urban community volunteers are targeted to be trained up to face different types of disasters. Islamic Relief, Bangladesh is working closely with FSCD for training up such volunteers through technical assistance from FSCD.

Among other participants, Home Minister Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Post & Telecommunication Minister Advocate Shahara Khatun, State Minister for Home Affairs Advocate Shamsul Haq Tuku and other high officials from FSCD, Donor agencies and media were present on the occasion.

For the inauguration programme of the FSCD Week, photographs, large balloons, festoons, posters, billboards containing messages on disaster preparedness wre put on display for the audience at the FSCD Training Complex which mentioned the contribution from European Commission Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection (ECHO), NARRI Consortium & Islamic Relief, Bangladesh.

Finance Minister inaugurates Child Art Exhibition on DRR in Sylhet

Recently a Child Art Exhibition was inaugurated by the honorable Finance Minister Mr. Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on 30^th November, at Shah Alam Gallery, Sylhet City Corporation. The theme of the month long art exhibition is disaster risk reduction considering the urban hazards of Sylhet city corporation area. The exhibition was organized by renowned art institution School of Art in coordination with NARRI Consortium partners Islamic Relief Bangladesh, Oxfam, VARD and Sylhet City Corporation. The event aims at raising mass awareness on preparedness against urban hazards and risk reduction measures at both family and school level. Another objective of the event is to involve the local art institution into the process of awareness building through a mainstreaming process which will eventually lead to child led community awareness. Around 130 drawings will be displayed during the exhibition. These drawings were selected from an art competition where 300 students participated in 3 age categories. The exhibition will be open for local community throughout the month of December.