Habitat for Humanity BangladeshBangladesh -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l 1
BANGLADESH, A GIANT DELTA region formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, is flat, low-lying and subject to droughts, river erosion, cyclones and especially floods. In mid-2007, for example, some 40 per cent of the country was inundated after torrential monsoon rains caused rivers to burst their banks. The floods, considered the worst in a decade, damaged or destroyed more than 500,000 homes.
HFH Bangladesh has built various partnerships that give its programs a vital boost. Habitat is currently involved in projects with international non-governmental organizations such as World Concern and World Vision. Volunteers from within the country and overseas also contribute their labor on builds in Bangladesh.
Habitat has hosted volunteer teams from Japan and the United Arab Emirates while youth teams from the American International School and other international schools in Dhaka and Shanghai have also lent a hand.
HABITAT HIGHLIGHTS
• In February 2009, Habitat dedicated the last of 480 transitional shelters built for families affected by Cyclone Sidr which hit southern Bangladesh in November 2007. The project’s supporters included Arup Group, Chevron Bangladesh, Christian Aid Ministries, HFH Great Britain, HFH Netherlands and UNICEF Bangladesh.
• In November 2008, Habitat dedicated the first 280 transitional shelters built for families affected by Cyclone Sidr which hit southern Bangladesh in November 2007. Work continues on an additional 200 shelters and partners include Christian Aid Ministries, HFH Netherlands, Chevron Bangladesh and other donors.
• HFH Bangladesh completed its first disaster response project in March 2008. A total of 122 transitional shelters were built in Bhuapur subdistrict, Tangail district to help families affected by the summer 2007 floods in southern Bangladesh.
• In 2008, Habitat hosted Global Village teams from seven countries who built with various satellites in Bangladesh.
• Habitat dedicated its 1,000th house, in Savar, 35 km. from Dhaka, in July 2007.
• Participants from Habitat’s programs in 12 Asian countries attended the South Asia Leadership Conference in Dhaka in June 2008. HFHI CEO Jonathan Reckford, who visited Bangladesh as part of his six-country tour, was keynote speaker.
• Britain’s Duke of Gloucester visited Habitat’s cyclone response project in southern Mirzganj and a regular housing project in Savar, north of the capital Dhaka.
• HFH Bangladesh signed new corporate partnership MOU with Delta Brac Housing Finance.
COUNTRY FACTS
Population: 153.5 million (est. July 2008)
Capital: Dhaka
Area: 144,000 sq. km.
Ethnic groups: Bengali 98%, others 2% (includes tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims) (1998)
Languages: Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Religions: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Updated February 2009
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