Switch Bangladesh Foundation taken action directly before, during or in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. The objective is to save lives, ensure health and safety and to meet the subsistence needs of the people affected.. We have five core plan for any disaster prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery.
The COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented in recent history. It is both a public health crisis and a humanitarian crisis that is impacting the lives, health and livelihoods of people around the world.The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Bangladesh in March 2020. The first three known cases were reported on 7 March 2020 by the country’s epidemiology institute, IEDCR. Infections remained low until the end of March but saw a steep rise in April 2020. Amid a nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus or COVID-19, hundreds of thousands of low-income workers in Bangladesh are protesting in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere demanding food and unpaid wages. Police have been patrolling the streets in most of the country to enforce social distancing and stay-at-home orders as the virus is taking its toll. Low-income groups including day laborers and garment workers are badly-affected groups in as they instantaneously have become jobless due to the nationwide lockdown, which began on March 26 and has been extended until May 5. From the beginning of March Switch Bangladesh Foundation started awareness to the slum people with limited food support but gradually its increasing . Until May 2019 we distributed around 15000 food bag to the underprivileged people in Slum area in Dhaka especially in Mohammadpur .
During Covid-19 we provided food to about 500 families for three months from March to May of 2019. Every week, distributed daily essentials including rice, pulses, potatoes, onions , oil and garlic etc. we have given the first priority to those who are deprived and jobless people.
Mask is a part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives; the use of a mask alone is not sufficient to provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19. Most of the people of our country had been unaware of using masks correctly at any crowded place during the COVID-19 pandemic. In such a circumstances, Switch Volunteers distribute mask among the slum people in partnership with Rotary Club of Shahbagh and Agami Education Foundation . The campaign aimed to increase awareness on the importance of wearing masks and social distancing to decrease the risks of contamination of COVID -19 among the people. Through this campaign, our volunteer raised awareness on using masks properly and its benefits on this pandemic and reached approximately 20 thousand people.
Turkey’s ambassador, Mustafa Osman Turan, called for cooperation from the government of Bangladesh, the private sector, and the public. Earthquake-hit Turkey hopes for winter clothes, medicine, and medical supplies. Switch Bangladesh Foundation handed over 120 pieces of blankets and six pieces of dry food to the Turkis Cooperation Agency today. They will collect such humanitarian aid till February 20. You can send support yourself or through us.
Special Note: They are not collecting any cash and old clothes.
Since May 2022, heavy monsoon rains and water from upstream in India’s northeast have inundated large parts of the Sylhet division in Bangladesh and leaving millions of people marooned and triggering a humanitarian crisis. There was no forecast for this flash flood, so the local people could not make any preparations.The flood affected people of the greater Sylhet who lost not only their houses but also the essential household materials .
Since the beginning of this crisis, Switch Bangladesh Foundation, with the help of our generous supporters and volunteers, have worked relentlessly and provided people with food, medicine and other necessities. Standing neck-deep in flood water, volunteers are reaching out to people to provide necessary relief packages partnership with City Insurance ltd, Rotary Club,. So far, we have helped thousands of families. A 15 volunteer team of Switch Bangladesh Foundation staying in Taherpur Upozila 8 days and delivered food in door to door in very remote areas people near Indian Border.
Switch Bangladesh Foundation (SBF) ‘s recent flood relief efforts have provided critical support to areas affected by severe flooding in Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur, and Cumilla. The disaster, caused by heavy rainfall and river overflow, significantly impacted infrastructure and displaced thousands of residents. In response, SBF initiated a multi-faceted relief operation starting on August 22, 2024, encompassing rescue missions, fundraising events, and essential aid distribution.
The rescue operations began immediately, with teams working tirelessly to evacuate vulnerable individuals, including children and pregnant women, using boats in hard-hit regions. Concurrently, a successful fundraising event in Dhaka raised over 590,000 Taka, which was used to procure relief supplies. Volunteers mobilized to collect and package donations, which included food, clothing, and hygiene products.
SBF’s efforts also addressed specific needs through various targeted distributions. Over 2,000 dry food packages and 5,000 cooked meals were delivered to shelters, ensuring nutritional access. Special initiatives provided baby food, essential supplies for pregnant women, and sanitary products to maintain health and dignity during the crisis. A medical camp was also established to treat minor injuries, illnesses, and chronic conditions, with hundreds receiving necessary care.
Overall, SBF’s flood relief program demonstrated a comprehensive approach to disaster response, combining immediate assistance with strategies for long-term recovery. Future recommendations emphasize sustained efforts, continuous fundraising, and partnerships to improve preparedness and support for affected communities.
