Oxfam, KOICA launch project to provide water and sanitation support to boat dwelling community in Chandpur

Oxfam, with support from Korea International Cooperation Agency's (KOICA) civil society cooperation program, will provide safe drinking water and sanitary support to 1,400 boat-dwelling communities in Chandpur.

The project, initiated Thursday through a workshop, will extend the support through 34 floating water and sanitation centres, said a press release.

KOICA, Oxfam in Korea, Oxfam in Bangladesh, local government officials, beneficiary groups and local partners attended the workshop and shared feedback on how to best address boat residents' needs.

More than 90% of Chandpur's boat residents do not have access to safe water and sanitation services, leading to a high prevalence of waterborne diseases. 

"Oxfam is committed to finding respectful and just solutions to address the ongoing barriers boat resident communities face in accessing rights and dignity," said Oxfam Bangladesh Country Director Dipankar Datta. 

Datta urged greater cooperation to provide communities living in boats across the country with basic services. 

KOICA Bangladesh Office Country Director Young-Ah Do and Oxfam Korea CEO Kyungyoung Chi and other stakeholders including Chandpur Municipality Mayor also spoke at the occasion. 

Kyungyoung Chi said, "We will actively review the opinions from today's workshop so that the voices of Chandpur boat dwelling communities learned through this inception workshop can be well reflected in this project implementation." 

Young-Ah Do said, " Ultimately the project aims to strengthen local people's ability to prevent infectious diseases." 

During the workshop, Oxfam outlined the project plan to boat residents of Chandpur and listen to the opinions of those who participated as representatives of the community, including adult women and men, teenagers and youth, children, and people with disabilities.