banglabradbury

For a short time, we have all lost our ability to travel freely. We are all separated from vulnerable family members and, for me personally, I am continually questioning if we made the right choice not to be closer to them when this COVID19 crisis is all around us. But at the moment, even though it feels strangely frustrating to be blocked from having the freedom of movement, not to be able to go where we want and when we want, we are learning so many lessons each day by living alongside our beautiful Bangladeshi colleagues and friends.

LESSON 1: People die of hunger too!

This week saw the temporary loosening of lockdown measures in Bangladesh, even though the numbers of infections are steadily rising. Excitedly, I took my daughter for a quick trip to the local bakery in search of some tasty treats. As soon as we stepped out of the car and put our feet on the broken, uneven paving stones we were completely surrounded. Desperate people looking for food and money all around us, crying for any assistance we could give. Older ladies, women with children, men with disabilities, street children, all ages of Bangladeshi society represented in a microcosm of collective anxiety about where the next meal would come from. My heart absolutely sank and I felt helpless and hapless inside. It left me with little doubt: COVID19 has created more extreme poverty and is going to hit the poorest and marginalized the hardest.

After a prompt about turn to get back in the car for fear of being mobbed or indeed infected, we made a hasty retreat to our bunker and quarantine address in the secure, military guarded and patrolled zone in which we live. A reminder that yes, this is a pandemic but also a massive, blindly obvious human memorandum; people die of hunger too! In Bangladesh, the majority of people living right on the edge, not in a thrill seeking, exciting sort of way but on the edge of subsistence, never more than a work free day or two away from crisis and hunger. I realized that even in Bangladesh for the most part I live in a world where emails, virtual conferences and meetings on Zoom occupy the day for me but immediately I step outside I meet struggling families unsure of their health, their income, their next meal and their safety sitting fearfully on the sides of the road. As the time has gone on and I am self-centredly wondering what the future looks like and whether we will ever get home on holiday, I’ve realised for many in Bangladesh that becomes more and more a redundant and ridiculous question, as the present looks more than concerning and worrisome.

It has been good to help in some small way by providing close to 6,000 food parcels as well as hygiene packs, hand sanitisers and a raft of other medical and counselling services. My hope in this time, has come from my colleagues, many of whom have actually been permanently separated from their families due to their Christians beliefs but who want to selflessly serve others in the name of Jesus without any grudge or thought for their own situation or safety! They are absolute heroes. But, honestly, what we do at this community level feels quite inadequate compared to the emerging enormity of the current situation. This form of band-aid relief is completely unsustainable and it is difficult not to conclude that a new set of complex challenges are about to descend on many countries, especially those with limited resources, massive populations and gaping gaps in health care and social security systems. I am not sure we are ready for what is to come but I do know that more holistic, long-term, flexible approach and partnerships are necessary, ones that embrace poverty reduction, livelihoods, climate change, secure housing, water security, public health issues and faith matters for all.

Lesson 2: Research where you get your goods from

The crisis has also struck at the Bangladesh economy’s core pillars of ready-made garments and remittances. I have already written about the totally unethical ways that some companies from Europe and the North America have shoddily abandoned or watered down their commitments and orders, passing their pressing problems down the line at a time when they should really should step up. At a time when we are all being asked questions about our privilege, businesses in developed countries should also look at the privileges and power they hold over their suppliers and act responsibly and fairly. I am trying to work out new ways to always use my privilege to call out injustice, plead for the widow and speak out for the benefit of the oppressed. Please join me in starting to make more of an effort to research the ethical nature of your preferred supplier of clothes – we are seeing the unseen inequalities and power plays in supply chains for the first time and it is not pretty.

Lesson 3: Developed countries can learn from developing countries

I have learnt that developing countries have an attitude of humility and togetherness. It seems that developing countries are much more willing to learn from others about how they respond. Constantly looking at patterns and practices from other countries has been a trademark of the Bangladeshi government and health services and I respect them for this approach. The debate over face masks and the gradual change to this being an acceptable means of protection highlights this. South Asia could have told you this some time ago, if only we had listened. I despair sometimes at the lack of willingness of many developed countries to learn from the developing world in so many areas of life and I include the organization I work for in this assertion. We have been wearing face masks for many months, a protection from infections and pollution not as cultural identity or fashion accessory. Bangladesh has an impressive network of community health workers standing ready to track down people in the community in a range of situations, used regularly and effectively. I know my home country could learn a lot about world class track and trace approaches as they struggle to get it right. I hope this becomes a watershed moment where the developed world, places like my home country in the UK, realise there is much to learn from those who they often look down on. Developed nations need to have a much better balance of looking internally and globally and I think the corona virus crisis highlights this more than ever.

Lesson 4: Rooftop life in Dhaka – Who Knew?!

I’ve learnt about the rooftop life in Bangladesh. For close to 18 months, I have lived in the most densely populated city in the world, where chaos, colour, smells, traffic and busyness are usually the order of the day. Under this lockdown period, we have settled into our captive lives, confined inside a relatively small apartment which seems to get smaller and smaller every day. During this time, we have resorted to seeking space and solace on our messy rooftop. We breathed the uncharacteristically clean air of Dhaka, we’ve talked to our neighbours for the first time and we have seen part of the Bangladeshi life we never knew existed. Kites decorate the clear skies, people competing to see who can fly their homemade creation to the highest point. Families and neighbours are playing various games, others are reading books, some have taken the opportunity to garden, some are even playing cricket. Then there is this thing of keeping birds. Who knew! Pigeons, parrots and all kinds of exotic birds living in roof top homes, set free a few times a day before they dutifully return back to their daily dwellings. During these challenging times, it seems the roof has become a hub of activity and indeed a true community space. I hope we don’t lose the aspect of community we have carefully garnered over the last few weeks. I hope we become even more intentional about being connected in new and innovative ways.

Lesson 5: Lockdowns are not new in Bangladesh

Finally, I’ve learnt that lockdowns have not been uncommon in Bangladesh. Hartels, or general strikes, were a common weapon of resistance during the rule of the imperialist British. Locking down a city or community has been used for political and economic protest in more recent years. A recent super cyclone meant evacuation and lockdown in a crowded shelter for many, while the rest of us had to stay inside our homes, away from the windows without electricity, hoping for the best. A terrifying day for many where COVID19 met Cyclone Amphan. As I write, the nor westerly storms and monsoon season has commenced with this cyclone already having left destruction and destitution in its wake. And we know there is more to come. But this time though we have been shut down by something we cannot see and if we are honest, in Bangladesh, something we maybe don’t really understand. What I do know, and I stress again, is that Bangladeshis are some of the most resilient people I have ever met, more adaptable than most to cope with disasters. And while COVID19 will test everyone, we can look back and take heart from the heritage and record of resilience and whichever religion we follow, pray together that we will be able to deal effectively with the inevitable scale of the challenges that lie ahead.

We stayed albeit not without a few wobbles and so we experience yet another crisis through the eyes of a different culture. Once again the response has been typically chaotic but exceptionally moving. Currently, most people accept that Bangladesh is in an extremely vulnerable position when it comes to COVID19. On a national level, it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with over 160 million people living in a small area half the size of the UK. We have one of the lowest testing rates for coronavirus and social distancing is near impossible. Add into the mix, hundreds of thousands of migrant workers returning to the country in the last 2 months due to the global lockdown situation and a refugee camp for close to 1 million people and it is easy to see why no-one is quite sure of the current picture in relation to the precise extent of this devastating virus.

So, here are 5 things I have learnt about living away from my passport country during the turbulent times of the corona virus crisis

Being ‘with’ people is harder when it impacts on your family

I’ll start with my own struggles. Many of our friends have agonised over a difficult decision to be either evacuated out by their embassy or stay and work. Most have gone. Watching from our roof as the evacuation planes fly over your apartment block is not for the faint hearted and brings all sorts of feelings of confusion and self-doubt. Questioning whether I am being a good father by keeping my children in a small apartment with no outdoor activities or walks, maneuvering 3 months of distance learning schooling with minimal resources and increasing their uncertainty about when they will ever get to see grandparents again is not a great feeling. I understand why people are leaving and a big part of me wishes I could be home, finding some security in our National Health Service but for me I believe The Salvation Army has an important role to play at this challenging time. So we stayed, helping to support the life giving emergency relief projects and life saving, essential medical services here. Only time will tell whether that was a wise decision or not but the act of being present with people is one thing we definitely signed up for. It feels important to be journeying together with the people we serve alongside right now but it is not without fluctuating emotions. We continue to pray that our faith remains stronger than our fears in the days ahead!

2. We are not all equal now but we do have things in common

I have seen and heard so many times that this crisis makes us all equal. It does not. We are not. Yes, it is indiscriminate and yes, we are all facing the same storms but this does not equate to a new found global equality. We are not all in the same boat! Even in Bangladesh, the corona virus does not make things equal between its anxious citizens and residents. I am able to selfishly stock up on food and medicine for a few weeks, while most people in Bangladesh are daily wage earners and struggle to live hand to mouth. I have ample space in my flat to isolate while less than a few metres away people are nervously couped up together with anywhere between 5 -10 living in a one roomed shack, sharing water and toilet facilities at risky public points. This crisis has also laid bare the poor state of health systems in some of the developing countries, where health insurance or state care are not even a remote possibility. However what emerges are beautiful commonalities of a wounded humanity in crisis. We all share kindness, strength and resilience as general societal and individual characteristics. Through this crisis, we have seen this all over the world. Kindness abounds across the country when it comes to generously sharing with others, no matter where you live. Sometimes it takes a disaster to bring out the strength in people or a population. Resilience is found in the least likely of places, unexpectedly reminding us that we all have a lot to learn from those who constantly bounce back from setbacks and crisis.

3. Fairtrade is not necessarily fair during times of crises

We are all connected, not just by handshakes or door handles but on a much more colossal scale. We have seen things from a unique perspective in Bangladesh and identified that in these connections, we see the best and worst in people. The best comes through the big-hearted support given by government, charities, businesses, individuals and for us, our supporting offices and territories. We have been enormously inspired by the selfless Salvation Army Officers, employees and volunteers in Bangladesh who, without any query or question, step up and step out to help the most vulnerable in their communities. But it also very difficult to sit and watch as many of the companies we use back home simply just cancel, put on hold orders or demand instant discount condemning millions of Bangladeshi garment works to be being sent home, unpaid and unemployed. I understand business is business but I can’t help thinking that it is easy to have good ethics and fair trade when things are going well but as soon as something goes wrong, once again the problem gets shifted down the line and ultimately it is the poorest who are the most vulnerable and hardest hit

4. Local solutions are possible

With a global scramble for equipment we are seeing local solutions emerging and the very best of the creative and innovative Bangladeshi minds coming to the fore. In the rural communities, the same inventiveness is on display when it comes to making your own soap or disinfectant and awareness raising activities. Bangladesh has a great history in implementing successful community based programmes in relation to family planning, TB and Leprosy and child illnesses (which TSA has been part of) and we can see this shining through again. The Salvation Army is present in communities and participates in the daily life of many of these innovative and creative approaches. It is resourceful and faithful people that inspire hope, that somehow manage to reassure us that everything might not turn out as bad as is being predicted. One leading NGO Executive Director puts it this way ‘while I am worried, I also have endless faith in Bangladesh’s ability to rise in a moment of crisis. Even when outsiders see us as a basket case, we see an innovative path forward’.

5. We need to unlearn and learn new ways of doing things

Our Strategic Plans, Mission Statements, budgets and logframes don’t prepare us for disasters, shocks or corona virus. They never have and never will. The developed world is understanding this more than ever right now but for most of the developing world, this is just the next in the line of disasters and shocks. In the midst of corona virus, Bangladesh is also preparing for dengue fever and monsoon season. My friend Matt White spoke really challenging words recently about how this a time when maybe we need to unlearn things while we have space to reflect; a sincere challenge for organisations as well as individuals. We can no longer just revert back to the way we used to do things, especially when that way largely benefits the agenda of the developed world. We need to find a new way and more flexible way of doing things that reflects the realities of life of those living in poverty, regardless of which country you live in.