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Oxfam in Bangladesh

Sufia stands in front of her newly raised home. Oxfam works with communities in Bangladesh to help them be better prepared for flooding and other natural disasters. Photo: Dan Chung

From our staff

Farhana Hafiz, Emergency Food Security and Livelihood Co-ordinator

 I've worked at Oxfam for seven years, but only recently joined the humanitarian team. In my earlier work, I was involved in the We Can campaign, which breaks through the silence surrounding domestic violence. That campaign is now a huge social movement, with one million change makers involved - so I'm proud to have been part of the whole process.

More broadly, Oxfam's work in Bangladesh focuses on changing people's attitudes and beliefs, as well as on community development and campaigning. We help people develop leadership skills and earn a better living, as well as supporting projects that improve people's resilience to disasters.



Full details of what Oxfam is doing in Bangladesh (PDF, 287KB)

In 2010-11 Oxfam helped:

400,000
people in
Bangladesh

You can help

Oxfam's projects in Bangladesh rely on your generosity.

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Snapshot of Oxfam in Bangladesh

Photo 1/10 photo by: Jane Beesley

Much of Bangladesh is low-lying and flood-prone. Increasingly frequent and extreme floods are expected to worsen as climate change affects sea levels, making floods deeper and longer lasting, hitting the poorest parts of the country hardest. Oxfam works hard to ensure that communities are better able to cope with disasters. Here, a staff boat travels to reach communities cut off by flooding.

  • Much of Bangladesh is low-lying and flood-prone. Increasingly frequent and extreme floods are expected to worsen as climate change affects sea levels, making floods deeper and longer lasting, hitting the poorest parts of the country hardest. Oxfam works hard to ensure that communities are better able to cope with disasters. Here, a staff boat travels to reach communities cut off by flooding.
  • Making sure that communities have access to clean water and safe sanitation facilities is an important element of our disaster response and preparedness work. Here, a mother and child in Char Atra stand by a new Oxfam raised tubewell that will provide people with clean water even during flood times. We also help raise people’s houses above flood levels and provide training on what to do when a disaster strikes.
  • During the floods, Oxfam paramedics work with traditional birth attendants to ensure that pregnant women are able to give birth safely. They also promote general health and hygiene awareness in the community. Here, Aleya Hossain Alo, an Oxfam-trained paramedic, holds up a birth delivery kit. “[When the floods happen] I bring medicines from government hospitals and distribute delivery kits amongst traditional birth attendants.”
  • We also work hard to ensure that community members have reliable incomes, even after disaster strikes. This includes giving training to women’s groups to help them grow vegetables and raise poultry as additional sources of food and income. The groups also save money that can be used to support their most vulnerable members. Here, Foyzonn Essa, gathers chillies in Char Atra.
  • Making sure that the rights of women and minority ethnic groups are respected is another important element of our work in Bangladesh. Here, people take part in a mime protest as part of Oxfam’s Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods to demand female farmers’ rights. Around 250 groups are members of this campaign alliance which focuses on agriculture, climate change and trade.

The impact of our work

 When there is danger of flooding members of the committee listen to the radio for information. Warnings and messages are given out. When we hear the weather forecast and news we can warn the community to prepare.


Shahia, Chair of Shukher Shondhane women's group