By Armen Grigoryan Nov 26 2018 (IPS) – Thirty years ago, a powerful earthquake ripped through my home country of Armenia, leaving 25,000 dead, 500,000 homeless and annihilating an estimated 40 percent of the national economy.
Category: Housing
Dubai tower The Opus by Zaha Hadid begins handover of commercial units
Dubai developer Omniyat Properties has confirmed that its delayed project The Opus by Zaha Hadid has started handover of its commercial units. Companies will now begin the fitting-out process to complete their bespoke offices, a statement said. Businesses that have…
That single line of blood: Nassir al-Mosabeh, Md al-Durrah
By Dr Ramzy Baroud As the frail body of 12-year-old Nassir Al-Mosabeh fell to the ground on Friday, September 28, history was repeating itself in a most tragic way.
Doomsday in real life: Warned of quake, govt eyed risk area
Petobo, Oct 9 (AP/UNB) — When the violent shaking from a massive magnitude 7.5 earthquake finally stopped, Selvi Susanti stood up and realized something strange was happening. First, she saw the ground suddenly begin to sink. Then the pavement split…
An uncertain future ahead for Rohingyas in Bangladesh
Over one year ago, Bangladesh opened its doors in response to what is now the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis. But questions still remain on how to rehabilitate the steadily growing population.
Tornado tears through Ottawa, Gatineau area, injuring people
The Canadian Press OTTAWA—A tornado ripped through the Ottawa area Friday afternoon, damaging homes and vehicles as severe thunderstorms and high wind gusts also pounded southern Ontario.
Arable land in Bangladesh down nearly 50pc in 47 years
Dhaka, Sept 19 – Nearly 50pc of Bangladesh’s arable lands have disappeared because of unplanned housing, indiscriminate construction of industrial units, brick kilns, construction of roads, school-colleges and other infrastructure development works.
BHBFC offers loan at 9pc interest in Dhaka, Ctg
Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation (BHBFC) is going to offer 9 percent interest for Dhaka and Chattogram areas instead of existing 9.5 percent.
Rohingya influx environmental impacts – multifaceted: Study
Dhaka, 18 September 2018: A joint study on Environmental Impact of Rohingya Influx, by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Women, supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was unveiled on September 18, 2018, at…
Riverbank erosion makes 5081 families homeless in Shariatpur
Shariatpur, Sep 13 – A total of 5081 families have been rendered homeless in Naria Upazila due to the violent erosion of Padma River in the district in recent weeks.
Dhaka hopeful of beginning Rohingya repatriation soon
Bangladesh has expressed hope that Rohingya repatriation will begin soon with the return of over 3,000 Rohingyas—though no specific date has been set to begin the process.
Improved cookstove to reduce household air pollution
Rafiqul Islam, UNB Staff Writer Dhaka – As part of the government target to distribute 30 million improved cookstoves by 2030, some 70,000 improved stoves have been installed in the coastal region of Bangladesh, aiming to reduce household air pollution…
Illegal sand lifting from Kaliganga endangers homesteads
Manikganj (Dhaka), Aug 30 – Many houses and establishments and a widely used bridge in the Manikganj district town, stand threatened due to riverbank erosion caused by illegal sand lifting from the Kaliganga River.
Suitable public transport, house must for disabled people
Even though over six billion people—nearly one billion of whom will have disabilities— are expected to live in urban centres by 2050, many of the world’s major urban cities have a long way to go before their infrastructure becomes inclusive…
Monsoon brings new hardships to poorly equipped camps: MSF
The onset of monsoon rains in Bangladesh has brought further misery to Rohingya refugees living in makeshift shelters of bamboo and plastic sheeting across the Cox’s Bazar peninsula, says MFS on Sunday.
Rohingyas awaiting future return to Myanmar need safer camps
Bangkok – The Bangladeshi government should relocate Rohingya refugees living in a severely overcrowded mega camp to safer ground in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, Human Rights Watch said in a report issued today. The refugees, who fled the Burmese military’s campaign…
8,000-year-old village discovered in Abu Dhabi
Archaeologists from Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism have discovered the oldest known Neolithic village in the UAE. Radioactive carbon testing at the site on Marawah Island dated it at around 8,000 years old, according to state news agency…
Khulna’s Koyra villages threatened by riverbank erosion
Around 42,000 people of 17 villages under Uttar and Dakhhin Bedkashi unions in Koyra upazila are passing their days in panic as erosion by the Shakbaria and Kabadak rivers has taken a serious turn.
Drive on to remove people from risky Ctg hills
Local administration continued the eviction drive in the hilly areas of the port city for the second consecutive day on Wednesday to avert possible loss of lives from landslides.