Bangladesh, situated in South Asia, confronts a multitude of challenges regarding disasters. Natural calamities impact approximately 6% of its population annually, with the country serving as a hotspot for tropical cyclones that wreak havoc in coastal regions, causing significant loss of life and property. Floods, droughts, salinity issues, extreme cold and heat waves, riverbank erosion, and powerful thunderstorms are recurrent occurrences, with Bangladesh enduring over 200 climate-related disasters in the last three decades alone. These calamities have resulted in millions of fatalities and inflicted approximately $16 billion in damage.

Compounding these challenges is the issue of pollution and environmental degradation, particularly evident in the capital city of Dhaka, home to over 22 million residents. Dhaka’s pollution levels rank among the world’s worst, contributing to health issues such as respiratory ailments, skin conditions, and cholera outbreaks. Public health hazards are pervasive throughout the country, exacerbated by events like the COVID-19 pandemic, recurring outbreaks of dengue fever following floods, etc.

Further complicating matters is the presence of the world’s largest refugee camp, located in Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf. Primarily inhabited by Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Myanmar, the camp requires substantial resources and robust measures to address disease control and disaster management effectively. The management of this vast refugee population adds another layer of complexity to Bangladesh’s disaster response efforts, necessitating comprehensive strategies to ensure the well-being and safety of all inhabitants.

Spreeha’s response: A ray of hope in the time of crisis

Aalo, meaning ‘light’ in English, is Spreeha’s emergency disaster response program designed to rebuild the lives of individuals and communities impacted by disasters across Bangladesh. From addressing refugee crises to combating global health threats and attending to community-based disaster preparedness needs, Aalo program embraces a comprehensive approach aimed at enhancing community resilience. As of December 2023, we have impacted more than 300,000 lives in Bangladesh affected by disasters.

Read the full article about Spreeha Foundation by Halima-Tus-Sadia at Global Washington.