Bangladesh is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world today which continues to be vulnerable to cyclones, storm surges, droughts, tornadoes, earthquakes, epidemics and most commonly annual floods. The project aims to improve the existing disaster management programs through deploying an effective early disaster warning system for wide spread information dissemination using Mobile SMS gateway, Wireless Application Protocol, Interactive Voice Response and Direct dialing helpdesk. The application supports both General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) & Code division multiple access (CDMA) system and has SMS2Mail & Mail2SMS feature.

Initially this project will be implemented in Bangladesh to benefit those people who are living in areas vulnerable to natural disasters. Services and facilities developed in this case will be readily available to 60 million mobile phone users in Bangladesh and also expected to support the disaster fighters, policy makers, rural media, relief agencies and the Government.

The project will rely on information and data collected from the relevant government departments, media, non government agencies and other authentic sources which will be disseminated through the mobile SMS gateway and IVR. Any mobile phone user will be able to register to receive the information and avail its services. A help desk will be established with comprehensive content on Disaster Management and Preparedness issues, concepts, and historical data with relevance to the Bangladeshi context. Based on the pilot project outcome & lesson learned in Bangladesh, the project idea, tools and application can be replicated and applied to other disaster prone areas in the world.