APPEAL: Support those affected by devastating floods in Bangladesh

• Last updated: 5 September 2017

Since 11 August 2017, heavy monsoon rains have caused intense flooding across more than one third of Bangladesh. India and Nepal have also witnessed unprecedented flooding. Latest figures show over 1,200 people have been killed, 1 million+ are displaced and 41 million are affected. Aid workers warn of severe food shortages, and water-borne diseases.

“In Bangladesh, an estimated total of 101,683 houses are reported to have been destroyed and 619,834 have been partially damaged; 145 persons are known to have lost their lives due to the floods.”

— United Nations

Many of the communities we support across Dinajpur, have been greatly affected. In particular, Jogen Babu Maath slum. The community was evacuated to a local school, as flood waters reached 7ft. Over the past couple of weeks waters have receded, leaving behind a wake of devastation. Debris lines the streets, earthen paths are mixed with sewerage, septic tanks are full leaving no usable toilets, and the tubewells are contaminated.

“With the flood waters receding, there is a possibility of an epidemic. We fear the outbreak of water-borne diseases if clean water is not ensured soon.”

— Bangladesh's Disaster Management Department

We are working to support these communities. Our first priority is access to clean water and sanitation. We are also aiding debris removal, including the open sewers as well as providing guidance and best practice for disinfection of homes and assets.

We welcome donations and have created a dedicated fund.

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AzuKo updates:

• In JBM slum there are currently only a few working toilets - the majority of septic tanks and soakaways have been flooded. We have now emptied, disinfected and opened the sanitation and shower facility. This will remain open to the community, with no membership fee, during August and September.

We are:

• Shock chlorinating 47 tubewells

• Supporting the disinfection of homes and assets

• Providing personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Distributing guidance for water, sanitation and hygiene practices for short-term and long-term

• Working with the community and POCAA to develop pre-preparedness strategies for future extreme weather events

More rain is forecast, and the situation could deteriorate. We will be working with the Asia Arsenic Network (AAN), to assess water sources over the remaining monsoon period.

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“In Bangladesh alone, more than 13,000 cases of waterborne diseases including diarrhoea as well as respiratory infections have been reported in the affected areas over the past three weeks.”

— IFRC (05.09.2017)

Latest news:

• ReliefWeb, IFRC / South Asia flood crisis: disease outbreaks... (05.09.2017)

• ReliefWeb, UN / Bangladesh HCTT response plan: monsoon floods (01.09.2017)

• ReliefWeb, UN-OCHA / South Asia: flooding - humanitarian snapshot (24.08.2017)

• CNN / Hundreds dead, thousands at risk after massive flooding in South Asia (22.08.2017)

• The Guardian / Floods claim more than 800 lives across India, Nepal and Bangladesh (21.08.2017)

Opening ceremony in JBM slum

Our new sanitation and shower facility in Jogen Babu Maath slum is now complete. On behalf of the community committee (JBMC-50), AzuKo and our local partner SAFE we'd like everyone to join us in our celebrations.

We hope to share updates, and live stream the opening ceremony via Facebook and Twitter:

• Facebook event page: http://bit.ly/2vifqaD ('Discussion' tab)

• Twitter: @AzuKo_Org

Follow the event online - like, comment, share, retweet!

Help us celebrate access to clean, fresh water, improved sanitation and dignified design.

• Date: Friday, 4 August

• Time: 4pm (Bangladesh time), 11am (UK time)

• Location: Online via Facebook & Twitter

Visit the Facebook event page.

How might we...

In 1921, the former Mayor of Poplar (now Tower Hamlets), spent six weeks in prison for directly defying the London County Council. His offence: defending the equal taxation rights of his constituents in East London - at the time (and still today), the most deprived and unjustly taxed in the city. His name was George Lansbury.

Lansbury's name lives on through his granddaughter Angela and through the neighbourhood that bears it.

(Photo: LSE Library)

(Photo: British History Online)

“Could you imagine a politician today going to jail for something they believe in?”

— Poplar resident

We're part of an ongoing conversation with those who live in and around Poplar for our A sense of place project.

Chrisp Street Market (the symbolic centre) stands at the precipice of regeneration, and at the forefront of what Lansbury fought so dearly to counter - a lack of concern for the most vulnerable. It's an apt forum for the London Festival of Architecture's 2017 theme, 'memory'.

As part of the festival, we hosted a range of individuals from researchers and architects to local residents and volunteer groups at Kafe 1788. Together we explored how to reduce the rate of eviction among residents of social housing, and how to build resiliency. The outputs from these co-design workshops were then added to an exhibition of our work in the Poplar Pavilion, designed and built by Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellow, Alex Julyan. 

(Elicea Andrews Photography - additional event photos)

Responding to stories of those we've spoken with - their hopes and fears - we used activities driven by empathy to lead discussions about belonging and community. What does placemaking look like when everyone is included?

Groups addressed three questions:

• How might we support residents to better understand their tenancy rights?

• How might we more clearly communicate the pressing concerns and challenges of residents to social landlords?

• How might we include the most vulnerable in placemaking activities?

In brainstorming answers to these questions, it soon became evident that building trust and respect between tenants and landlords is paramount, whether through 'gastrodiplomacy', 'local champions', 'persistent contact', 'face-to-face', 'personal advisors' or even a 'listening service'.

The groups also placed importance on existing skills, strengths and capacity of residents, where such assets can be shared and how to support residents create their own trusted networks.

'Space' and 'place' were embedded in every conversation.

At AzuKo, we believe that the process of coming together to express and share ideas is a worthwhile experience for all those involved. Feedback from our event showed just that. 

Participants told us:

• Empathy is a necessary starting point for design

• Insights driven by residents create meaningful solutions

• There is value in learning from others' experience

• Role play is a great tool to see the world from another's viewpoint

• Participation, collaboration and diversity are key

LFA 2017 was a small sample of what happens when,

“you see the likeness of people in other places to yourself in your place. It lights invariably the need for care toward other people, other creatures, in other places as you would ask them for care toward your place and you.”

— Wendell Berry

It was another small step towards the ends that George Lansbury fought for nearly a century ago - dignity in design.

Find out more about our project, A sense of place.

Author: N. Ardaiz

A very warm thank you to everyone who made our LFA 2017 event a success, including Alex Julyan (Wellcome Trust), Ao Leal video production, Elicea Andrews Photography, Justin Brown (native north architects), Kafe 1788, Kineara, Ruth Baker and Francesca Tafi (Ryder).