By Maureen Simpson, Senior Manager, Global Communications, Global Communities, with reporting from George Kapataies
Gaza Response, WEFAQ hygiene and protection kits and toys for children. January 2, 2024. Photo: Global Communities
Since 1994, Global Communities has fostered deep ties with Palestinian communities, focusing on needs-based, equitable and sustainable initiatives. For three decades, our diverse programs have included youth engagement, governance and capacity building, infrastructure rebuilding, economic development, WASH and protection.
Telemedicine in remote areas during COVID-19. Photo: Spreeha Foundation
“During those uncertain times; when all doctor chambers were closed, the doctor was there to prescribe me medicines over the telephone which was a great relief for both me and my family” – said Anwar Hossain, while talking about Spreeha’s telehealth service that has been initiated more pro-actively in the wake of Coronavirus in 2020-21.
Bangladesh, situated in South Asia, confronts a multitude of challenges regarding disasters. Natural calamities impact approximately 6% of its population annually, with the country serving as a hotspot for tropical cyclones that wreak havoc in coastal regions, causing significant loss of life and property. Floods, droughts, salinity issues, extreme cold and heat waves, riverbank erosion, and powerful thunderstorms are recurrent occurrences, with Bangladesh enduring over 200 climate-related disasters in the last three decades alone. These calamities have resulted in millions of fatalities and inflicted approximately $16 billion in damage.
When a humanitarian emergency strikes, people are often forced to flee their homes and leave everything behind to make the dangerous journey to safety. During an emergency response, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency prioritizes saving lives and minimizing serious harm by meeting the most urgent humanitarian needs.
