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Improving lives and providing relief

Yasmin Khan and her two sons outside a CAFOD built shelter after their home was destroyed by Cyclone Sidr [Claire Goudsmit]

Caritas Bangladesh is one of the largest and most experienced Caritas members in Asia in both relief and development

We support programmes on improving livelihoods, HIV, and gender. We also work with this partner to provide emergency relief and rehabilitation in the wake of natural disasters such as cyclones.

Making a better living

The Improved Livelihoods and Sustainable Agriculture Programme (ILSA) is helping communities in some of the most vulnerable regions of Bangladesh have enough food and make a better living.

The programme is working with people in the flood prone Khulna district in the south west and the Rajshahi drought stricken area in the north west.

It provides training in seed collection, crop field preparation and better nutrition and health. The programme encourages women to play an active role in all stages of agricultural production which has involved setting up women’s corners selling produce in village markets.

Preventing HIV

Poverty, a lack of awareness and cross border migration are some of the factors that make Bangladesh vulnerable to the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The country is in the early stages of a possible HIV epidemic. This is the period in which preventive measures could have most effect.

Caritas Bangladesh’s HIV and AIDS Prevention Programme has a team of core trainers who train others to run workshops and use drama to raise awareness of sexually transmitted infections, HIV and AIDS. It also supports people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Gender

We have supported the development of the national Gender and Development Programme (formerly IWDP) of Caritas Bangladesh. We now hope to influence Caritas and other partners to address gender issues through CAFOD funded projects and programmes and others.

Responding to disasters

Low-lying Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to cyclones and associated flooding.

Following Cyclone Sidr in 2007 and Cyclone Aila in 2009, we supported partners to provide food, (textiles) and basic household materials and repair and build low-cost housing, and cyclone shelters.

CAFOD is a member of the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership which works to ensure the highest standards of accountability in humanitarian projects.

Give

For every £1 given to our Give it up! appeal this Lent, including Lent Fast Day, the government will donate another £1 – doubling your donation and changing even more lives