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25 August 2010, Dhaka. UN  Secretary-General  Ban Ki-moon today appointed a Group of Eminent  Persons to advise on the  support needed to help the world’s poorest  nations achieve their  development targets.

BRAC's Founder and Chairperson, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, was among the ten people selected to join the Group. 

"The  members have been selected in view of their high international   stature, expertise and strong commitment to global development," said  the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General.   "They  will be making  efforts to raise public awareness and build strong  political commitment  in support of the LDCs in key areas, including  trade, investments,  technology transfer, official development  assistance, building  productive capacities, adaptation to the effects of  climate change, and  a stimulus package to manage the impacts of the  global financial  crisis."

Others in the Group include, Alpha Oumar Konaré, former  president of the Republic of Mali; Jacques Delors, former president of  the European Commission; Nancy Birdsall, the founding president of the  Center for Global Development; Kemal Dervi vice president and director  of Global Economy and Development at Brookings Institution; James  Wolfensohn, chairman and CEO of Wolfensohn & Company and former  President of the World Bank; Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of Sumitomo  Chemical Company Ltd.; Louis Michel, member of European Parliament and  formerly the European commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid;  Louis A. Kasekende, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda and formerly  executive director at the World Bank; and Sir Richard Jolly, Honorary  Professor of the Institute of Development Studies at the University of  Sussex.

20 August 2010, Dhaka. Business leaders and professionals in the North West of England have responded generously to BRAC’s call for public support for Vision Bangladesh. Fundraising events so far have raised close to £10,000 since July 2010 and more are planned for the future.

Sandra Kabir, Executive Director, BRAC UK, praised the commitment that British-Bangladesh professional affiliations are showing towards eradicating cataract blindness in Sylhet by 2014.

“We are really delighted with the support so far from our northern supporters. All the funds raised by these events are sent directly to the project in Bangladesh. The money goes a long way – just £20 buys a cataract operation for a poor widow isolated by blindness in her village and £30 provides 20 people free glasses so they can see again. Thank you for all your dedication and keep up the good work – we still have a long way to go to reach our target of £3 million.”

Recent activities include:
 

“We hope that our contribution will go a long way to help those who are less fortunate and with better can build their lives. We are grateful for all the donations made at the Charity Iftar.” Mohammed Dobir Miah, RBPP Secretary.
 

“It is a privilege and an honour to be supporting such an excellent initiative with clear goals. We were absolutely delighted to welcome to our event, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of BRAC, who is such an inspiration to the world.” Monchab Ali, Central Chair, Greater Sylhet Council and owner of Bengal Dynasty.
 

  • A group of immigration advisers, led by Alam Ahmed, is organising a Vision Bangladesh fundraiser at Millon Restaurant in Oldham for September 28 and expects to raise at least £2,000.

 

Vision Bangladesh is a partnership programme between BRAC and Sightsavers in Bangladesh with the targeting of eliminating avoidable blindness in Sylhet by 2014. Screenings, treatment and operations started in January 2010 and so far 1,300 poor people have undergone a cataract operation, and 7,000 people have been screened.

For more information on how to support Vision Bangladesh, and organise a fundraiser in your area, please contact:

Penelope Mawson, Director of Development and Communications, BRAC UK
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Tanvir Ahmed, Media Consultant, BRAC UK
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Muzahid Khan, Manchester Supporter Group Coordinator, BRAC UK
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Pakistan Flood

 

11 August 2010, Islamabad. The number of people affected by the worst floods in Pakistan that the country has witnessed in decades continues to rise as the scale of the disaster becomes more serious with every passing day.

A rapid assessment of the situation by UN- OCHA in Pakistan has found that nearly one million people have been displaced by flooding in Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan and Peshawar, four districts in the hard-hit province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), 100,000 homes have been destroyed in these districts, while some 50,000 others have sustained damage. Nowshera alone is home to over 650,000 affected people, while in some parts of Charsadda, the waters have destroyed all crops. The meteorological department of Pakistan has released fresh flood warnings on Wednesday, putting parts of Punjab and Sindh on alert and calling on foreign donors to step up to contain the country`s worst humanitarian disaster.

There is a serious shortage of clean water, food, blankets, sleeping mats and health facilities for the affected people. BRAC Pakistan is actively engaged in emergency relief efforts for the flood victims in the region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). Eleven BRAC branches have distributed 6kg food parcels and oral saline sachets to more than 8,000 affected families–benefiting almost 50,000 flood victims. An additional 1650 households received six litres of bottled water, a plastic floor mat for sleeping on, and 1000 rupees for house repairs.

BRAC is providing emergency health care from four health camps that have been set up. So far, we have treated 5,606 people and distributed 425 free mosquito nets. BRAC WASH teams have also installed 22 water sinks and hand pumps benefiting entire communities.

BRAC Pakistan is constrained by a lack of funds for emergency relief supplies and is appealing for international funds in order to scale up its work to other affected districts where it has staff and branches.

For further information about BRAC or on how you can contribute to flood relief efforts, please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

Monday, 02 August 2010 18:00

Update on flood relief in Pakistan

03 August 2010, Dhaka. With the heavy rainfalls and the ensuing flood in Pakistan, BRAC  temporarily halted its microfinance and health operations in  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and is focusing on providing emergency relief.  “Drawing upon years of experience in flood relief work in Bangladesh, a  flood-prone country, BRAC Pakistan staff are rapidly and effectively  assisting the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province,” said Susan Davis,  President & CEO of BRAC USA.

 

Pakistan flood: A woman carries relief supplies, distributed by the Army
Reuters/Adrees Latif, courtesy www.alertnet.org

The shortage of food is acute.  BRAC Pakistan has begun to deliver food packets which contain rice,  lentils, flour, and water purification tablets. To combat the threat of  diarrheal diseases breaking out, BRAC is distributing Oral Rehydration  Solution sachets. This is a staple commodity distributed by BRAC’s  health program in every country where we operate, including Pakistan.  Additionally, BRAC will be sending a medical team for assessment of  health needs in the affected communities.

Of the houses that are  still standing many are under water. BRAC’s staff in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa  expect the water to recede in 2-3 days, but “this part of Pakistan is  not accustomed to floods,” said Mr. Aminul Alam, Executive Director of  BRAC International. “In Bangladesh, we are used to this so we can  prevent casualties there. But here the families and communities we serve  are not used to this. We want to help because of BRAC’s experience of  dealing with floods in Bangladesh over the years.”

BRAC Pakistan  has been operating in Pakistan since 2007 providing microfinance  throughout 94 branches to 106,000 people. Of BRAC’s 12 offices in  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 10 are under water. However, BRAC’s existing  footprint in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the extensive network of local staff  give BRAC a starting point through which relief will be delivered.

“Many  families that we serve have seen their houses washed away. Many houses  of our staff members were also washed away. But as a BRAC staff member  they can be effective in delivering relief to the families and  communities that they serve every day,” said Mr. Faridhur Rahman, BRAC  Pakistan CEO.

“Vehicles cannot go in to flooded areas, and there  is a lack of boats in this area. We have no choice but to wade through  water and deliver relief supplies on foot where we can, even in flooded  areas,” said Mr. Rahman.

Click here to donate to support BRAC's work in Pakistan.

About BRAC

BRAC,  the largest non-profit in the developing world, was launched in  Bangladesh in 1972 and currently touches the lives of more than 138  million people through its programs addressing poverty including  micro-loans, education, health services, self-employment opportunities  and human rights education. BRAC’s vision is to improve the health,  wealth and well being of millions of the poorest families primarily in  Asia and Africa. BRAC has provided $6.7 billion in micro-loans to nearly  eight million borrowers, mostly women, and created 9 million  self-employment opportunities. BRAC’s 84,000 community health promoters  have provided basic health services to nearly 100 million people.  Currently, BRAC has programs in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Haiti, Liberia,  Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Southern Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Uganda.  BRAC USA is a 501 c 3 affiliate in New York. To learn more about BRAC,  please visit www.bracusa.org.

Media Contacts

Pakistan
Md. Faridhur Rahman
CEO
BRAC Pakistan
92 334 5505 423
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USA
Malik Rashid
Program Manager
BRAC USA
1 212 808 5615
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sunday, 01 August 2010 18:00

BRAC to provide flood relief in Pakistan

02 August 2010, Dhaka. With the heavy rainfalls and the ensuing flood in Pakistan, BRAC has  temporarily halted its normal operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (formerly  the North-West Frontier Province) and is focusing on providing relief  work.  BRAC seeks to bring to the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa our years  of experience in flood relief work in Bangladesh, a flood-prone  country.

 

Women wade through flood waters with their children while evacuating from Nowshera, Pakistan.
Reuters/Adrees Latif, courtesy www.alertnet.org 

“We want to cover 4,000 families,” says BRAC Pakistan  CEO Mr. Faridhur Rahman, referring to the number of families to whom  BRAC aims to deliver food such as rice, lentils, and flour in the next  four days.  The shortage of food is acute. 

To combat the threat  of diarrheal diseases breaking out, BRAC will also be distributing Oral  Rehydration Salts (ORS).  This is a staple commodity distributed by  BRAC’s health program in every country where we operate, including  Pakistan.  Additionally, BRAC will be sending a medical team for  assessment of health needs there.

Of the houses that are still  standing many are under water.  BRAC’s staff in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa  expect the water to recede in 2-3 days, but “this part of Pakistan is  not accustomed to floods,” says Mr. Anisur Rahman, BRAC Pakistan’s  Microfinance Program Manager.  “In Bangladesh, we are used to this so we  can prevent casualties there.  But here the families and communities we  serve are not used to this.  We want to help because of BRAC’s  experience of dealing with floods in Bangladesh over the years.” 

BRAC  Pakistan has been operating in Pakistan since 2007.  Of BRAC’s 12  offices in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 9 are under water and 3 are of limited  use. However, BRAC’s existing infrastructure in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in  the form of branch offices and the extensive network of local staff give  BRAC a starting point through which relief will be delivered. 

“Many  families that we serve have seen their houses washed away.  Many houses  of our staff members were also washed away.  But as a BRAC staff member  they can be effective in delivering relief to the families and  communities that they serve every day,” Mr. Rahman says. 

“Vehicles  cannot go in to flooded areas, and there is a lack of boats in this  area.  We have no choice but to wade through water and deliver relief  supplies on foot where we can, even in flooded areas.” 

Click here to donate to support BRAC's work in Pakistan.

 

20 July 2010, Dhaka. Alan Duncan, UK Minister for International Development, spent the morning in Manikganj visiting BRAC programmes on education, health, microfinance and extreme poverty alleviation, many of which receive funding from the UK government.

At a BRAC pre-primary school in Gilondo village, the minister took part in various learning games with the children and was particularly impressed by the school’s interactive teaching methods.

Whilst visiting the home of Modhumala, a BRAC microfinance client in Uchutia village, he observed a weekly microfinance group meeting on her courtyard and spoke to several members of BRAC’s ultra poor programme. He was especially moved by the significant improvements Modhumala was able to bring to her life through various enterprises she started with microloans, citing this as a perfect example of the benefit of giving a helping hand instead of a hand out.

“...going around with BRAC was very instructive and very useful, they’re doing some great things. A few minutes ago, I was with some of the ultra poor where the programme is to give them a grant of a cow or chicken to begin a life which has some kind of livelihood behind it. It’s from these little beginnings that development has to start, and that’s what I’m seeing in practice today.”

Later on, he joined a community health forum and participated in an eye examination for reading glasses conducted by a BRAC health volunteer. His final stopover was at an ante-natal clinic for expecting mothers where he observed various health examinations designed to identify pregnancy-related complications.

The Minister was accompanied by Acting British High Commissioner Duncan Norman, Head of Department for International Development (DFID), Bangladesh, Chris Austin, BRAC Executive Director Mahabub Hussain as well as other senior officials from BRAC and DFID Bangladesh.

 

 

13 July 2010, Dhaka. Last week, BRAC Bank in Bangladesh was awarded the Emerging Markets Sustainable Bank of the Year Award for the Asian region.  

 Now in their fifth year, the awards recognize banks and other financial institutions that have shown leadership and innovation in integrating social, environmental and corporate governance considerations into their operations.

"Broadening financial services to the poor and helping to raise living standards around the world is good for business and good for the global economy," said Lars Thunell, IFC Executive Vice President and CEO.

Click here to read more about the award and the gala dinner.

07 July 2010, Dhaka. Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder and chairperson of BRAC, received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree today from the University of Bath for his outstanding contributions to social improvement.

The ceremony at Bath Abbey was presided over by university chancellor Lord Tugendhat and was preceded by a public procession of senior campus officers and academics.

Sir Fazle also received several honorary degrees including Doctor of Humane Letters from Yale University in 2007, Doctor of Laws from Columbia University in 2008 and Doctor of Letters from the University of Oxford in 2009.

 

Wednesday, 07 July 2010 18:00

BRAC and UNICEF aim for closer ties

08 July 2010, Dhaka. BRAC and UNICEF have collaborated on different projects over the years. To strengthen this tie further and work towards Bangladesh’s national goals both the organisations have decided to collaborate more frequently to address the impending issues of Bangladesh. The main focuses are education, child protection, health and nutrition, and water and environmental sanitation.

 

08 July 2010, Dhaka. An agriculture training centre is being constructed in Uganda. The centre will be used to carry out agriculture research and experimentation at BRAC’s Nakaseke farm. The centre will include residential facilities. The training centre is expected to be completed within 6 months.

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