IOM, GoB conduct ocean safety training for 200 boatmen
Between 5-6 March, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in coordination with the Moheshkhali Upazila administration and other governmental bodies is conducting a “Safety at Sea” training for 200 boatmen based on the island of Moheshkhali, with the support of the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).
The Cox’s Bazar - Moheshkhali sea route is one of the main routes in this region, used frequently by expansion agencies and tourists alike. Very similar to Cox's Bazar’s mainland, the island of Moheshkhali is incredibly prone to pure hazards such as for example cyclones. Based on the District Administration, almost a third of the 300,000 persons living on the island are in risk.
“Seeing as the Moheshkhali- Cox's Bazar ocean route is highly influenced by cyclones, we happen to be grateful because of this initiative of sensitizing our boatmen about ocean safety,” declared Ashequllah Rafiq, Person in Parliament designed for the Cox's Bazar-2 constituency. “IOM has been very effective in Moheshkhali, continually assisting host communities. We are able to only hope extra will follow go well with and address the urgent necessities of the remote island.”
Since 2019, IOM has been employed in the Moheshkhali Upazila and its own five unions on construction the capability of Upazila and union Disaster Control Committee (DMC) members, training near 1,500 Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) volunteers on primary DRR skills and simple firefighting, and 150 host community volunteers on rescue training.
Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Moheshkhali’s Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) has applauded the initiative through the project’s inauguration in March 5. “IOM’s constant support to the Moheshkhali Upazila hasn't gone unnoticed. Through this assistance, our volunteers have benefited from several much-required Disaster Risk Reduction capacity construction actions and our community possesses received hygiene materials to support us in the fight against COVID-19 when we wanted it the virtually all.”
Together with the Upazila administration, the neighborhood Fire Provider and Civil Defense, Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP), Bangladesh Inland Normal water Transportation Authority (BIWTA) and Coast Guard also actively participated in working out.
“Many hundred boatmen are actively working on the Cox’s Bazar-Moheshkhali sea route, nevertheless they haven’t had usage of any proper training about safety at sea up to now. It is imperative to allow them to have access to this kind of life-saving capacity setting up activity,” explained Patrick Charignon, IOM Cox’s Bazar Transition and Recovery Programme Coordinator. “We hope that initiative can not only save lives but likewise have added value for the island’s tourism sector.”
Working out was organized in two batches, for 100 participants each day. Members of the Upazila and Union DMC in Moheshkhali as well participated in the training. After completing their respective module, IOM furnished the boatmen with sea security equipment.
Within the training, the boatmen learned different concepts on different types of topics, ranging from DRR, fundamental firefighting, initial rescue, cyclone early warning system and behavior change in communication, to correct make use of sea safety equipment (life jacket, life buoy, radium sticker, power bank and torch mild).
“Today, I had the chance to learn factors that I feel will come to be of great importance for my daily job,” said Rajan, among the boatmen, after completing working out. “From now on, I am confident that I should be able to keep myself safe, but also the passengers I carry during my journeys at sea.”
