One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
1. Over hundred researchers and professionals from
home (Bangladesh) and abroad (Australia, India, U.S.A.), gathered at
the 6th International Conference on Arsenic express concern that,
though some progress has been made to contain arsenic contamination and
mitigate its adverse impacts including treatment of affected patients,
we are yet to take up the subject with the seriousness and deligance it
demands.
2. The participants taking note
that the aim of this conference is to look back over the last 10 years
and learn from the accumulated knowledge from the successes and
failures, advantages and disadvantages of mitigation options, and also
from various action programmes and mitigation strategies carried out by
agencies and organizations in the arsenic contamination areas calls for
a development and implementation of a coordinate programme.
3. Apprehending that Arsenic in
drinking water could turn out to be a “Slow weapon of Mass
destruction”, we urge upon the media to high light the threat of
Arsenicosis and sensitize all concerned to adopt measures to fight
threat.
4. Being aware that there is no known cure for
Arsenicosis, the disorder from Chronic Arsenic poisoning, we call for
ensuring supply of safe drinking water in all arsenic affected areas.
5. Noting that deeper aquifer may be contaminated by
vertical movement of water, we urge upon concerned authorities to
monitor installation of all tube wells so that proper depth is achieved
and the tube wells are properly sealed.
6. Concerned that tube wells are being installed with
out proper quality control, we call for independent third party
evaluation of all deep tube wells.
7. Realizing that irrigation water containing arsenic
affects soil and crops and thus enter the food chain,
indicated by some research outputs, we call for further research
activities to establish the relationship between arsenic in irrigation
water and its accumulation in crops.
8. Recognizing that rain water harvesting would be a
viable option for safe drinking water, we urge upon all concerned to
maximize its use.
9. Noting that various relevant policies give
preference to surface water, we would expect all agencies concerned to
maximize utilization of surface water.
10. And finally we the participants being aware that
the National Arsenic Mitigation policy and its Implementation plan
needs to be taken down to local Community level for getting proper
response to the
problem.
5th
International Conference on Arsenic Developing
Country's Perspective on health, Water and Environmental Issues
Held in Dhaka on February
15th, 16th & 17th , 2004, Henceforth
to be called
The 5th Dhaka Declaration
We, the Participants of
the 5th International Arsenic Conference, note that while certain
achievements
been reached so far regarding the supply of arsenic free safe water to
the
people of Bangladesh, concrete and long-lasting efforts remain to be
implemented. We were, however, pleased to note that a national arsenic
policy
and guidelines is under the process of approval by the Government of
Bangladesh. We understand that major initiatives have started. But
considering
the severity and magnitude of this human tragedy, the progress of work
are
still very slow and inadequate. As such we continue to urge upon all
concerned,
irrespective of their nationality or affiliation to come forth to help
the
people of Bangladesh on all emergency basis.
We have heard and noted
the progress achieved in mitigating the arsenic crisis from the 1st
International Conference in 1998 till the 4th Conference in 2002. While
we
appreciate that efforts are more significant than in the previous
years, we
cannot but stress the need for placing greater emphasis on patient care
and
development of an approved protocol for the treatment of arsenic
-patients.
More
specifically, we the
Participants do hereby declare that:
In
matters relating to
patient management, it is important to develop, both an acceptable
and
affordable form of treatment.
In
matters relating to
water resource management, all stakeholders are earnestly requested
to
adhere to the proposed National Arsenic Mitigation Policy and the
Implementation Plan.
In
the matter of source
of water, we urge upon all to give priority to exploitation of
perennial
sources of surface water.
In
the matters of use
of ground water, we recommend that safety and sustainability of the
deep
aquifers must be ensured. Adequate understanding of the
hydro-geological and
hydro-chemical parameters must developed to ensure that these aquifers
would
not become contaminated in the future.
We request all
concerned to undertake, 3rd party audit and analysis of
all the
deep tube wells both Government and private, to evaluate the present
status of
water quality.
We
urge upon the
scientists to quantify the impact of arsenic contaminated
irrigation water
on the food chain and food production.
We,
the Participants of
this Conference, recommend that:
·
All mitigation
activities will be
useless unless there is full participation of local communities and
local
government institutions before, during and after implementation to
ensure
ultimate ownership. Transparency and mutual respect should the basis
for all
future work.
·
All future
mitigation activities
should involve the private sector. Forging a partnership.
·
More scientific
scrutiny and
public discussion should be held before validating any of the
technologies for
the purpose of marketing and large-scale use.
In
conclusion, we
re-iterate the seriousness of the situation in Bangladesh and urge all
concerned to actively assist the people of Bangladesh, particularly the
already
affected people, in overcoming this crisis.
Back to Top
Participants at
The 4th International Conference
on
Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater:
Causes, Effects and Remedies
Held at Dhaka on January 12 & 13, 2002
make the following declaration:
Henceforth to Be Called
THE 4th DHAKA
DECLARATION
It is with profound
distress that we, the Participants of the 4th
International Arsenic Conference, have noted that no significant
achievement has been reached so far regarding the supply of arsenic
free
safe water to the people of Bangladesh.
We were, however, pleased to
note that major initiatives are being started, but considering the
severity and magnitude of this enormous human tragedy, the efforts are
still too slow. As such, we urge upon all concerned, irrespective of
their nationality or affiliation, to come forth to help the people of
Bangladesh on an emergency basis.
We have heard and noted the progress achieved in mitigating the arsenic
crisis from the 1st International Conference in 1998. While we
appreciate that efforts are more significant than in the previous
years,
we cannot but stress the need for placing greater emphasis on the
formulation of a framework of a National Strategy to arsenic
mitigation.
In this strategy, the interests of the people of Bangladesh would be
given utmost priority.
More specifically, we the Participants do hereby declare that:
*
In matters relating to
patient management
There is no known treatment for arsenic skin
lesions.
It is important to develop both an acceptable treatment and management
protocol for the numerous patients suffering from arsenic skin problem.
Disease caused by chronic arsenic poisoning and its complications need
to be properly defined. A widely acceptable protocol should be
developed
and implemented by the health system for patient management.
*in matters
relating to water resource treatment
Extreme caution must
be exercised before recommending any solution,
either as an alternate source or as a form of arsenic removal
technology
unless adequate scientific evaluation is carried out by a competent
authority.
Bangladesh being endowed with abundant surface water and rain water,
all
agencies must consider the use of surface and rain water before
suggesting ground water withdrawal except in unavoidable circumstances
or in safe areas.
Before recommending extraction of ground water from deeper aquifers,
the
safety of the deep aquifers must be ensured and adequate understanding
of the geological parameters developed to ensure that these aquifers
will not become contaminated in the future.
More understanding is required to quantify the impact of arsenic
contaminated irrigation water on the food chain and food production.
As alternate water sources are being identified, extraction of ground
water from shallow aquifers should be banned except in safe areas or in
unavoidable circumstances.
* We, the Participants of this Conference, recommend:
All activities related to arsenic mitigation or
research in Bangladesh
should be significantly increased and expediated after scientific
evaluation.
All mitigation activities must be undertaken to
ensure the full
participation of local communities and local government institutions
before, during and after implementation to ensure ultimate ownership.
We
believe that without the involvement of communities and local
government
institutions all efforts will be unsustaintble.
All future mitigation activities should
involve the private sector,
forging a partnership and coordination between the public and private
institutions.
In conclusion, we reiterate the seriousness of the
situation in
Bangladesh and urge all concerned to actively assist the people of
Bangladesh in overcoming the mega crisis
LESS WORDS AND MORE DEEDS, PLEASE
Back
to Top
THE THIRD DHAKA
DECLARATION
DECLARATION
OF THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE 3RD INTERNATIONAL ARSENIC CONFERENCE
HELD AT
DHAKA, BANGLADESH ON MAY 13 & 14, 2000
HENCEFORTH TO BE CALLED
THE THIRD DHAKA DECLARATION - 2000 ON ARSENIC:
NEED FOR ACTIONS
-A large number of people, including children and women,
continue to
suffer from chronic arsenic poising and more are expected to suffer in
the future;
-The arsenic problem remains a major threat to public health
and the
social structure of Bangladesh;
· Supply of arsenic free, safe water is the immediate
need;
· Coordinated and concerted efforts are needed from Government,
NGOs the
private sector, national and international organizations and
individuals
to overcome this severe problem;
· Attention also needs to be focussed on other related
issues,
such as
arsenic in food and soil.
We, the
participants of this International Conference in Dhaka, observe
that the progress in dealing with the arsenic problem in Bangladesh has
been tragically slow, and do hereby declare that: -
· On-going efforts need to be accelerate to become
effective;
and
- The arsenic
contamination crisis in Bangladesh must be dealt with
on an emergency basis;
- The entire nation needs to be mobilize to
combat the problem;
- Research is needed to in the context of
developing a vision for a
comprehensive water policy;
- Attention must be given to the needs of
the arsenic patients and
their management; and
- All agencies, whether government,
non-government, donor, academic,
national or international, must act now. There is no time to waste
-
enough knowledge is available to undertake the basic steps
- to stop
people from drinking arsenic contaminated water through social
mobilization and involvement of villagers and local government bodies
in
the screening and mitigation activities, tapping into the indigenous
knowledge of the villagers themselves and validating it through
scientific methods.
Act immediately!
Remember: a day lost is a few
lives lost!
Back
to Top
ARSENIC
PROBLEM AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN BANGLADESH
The second DHAKA
DECLARATION
Date: December 15, 1998
We the participants of the workshop declare
that:
(a) There is an urgent need to accelerate both the identification
of
safe water sources and the expansion of mitigation programmes in the
affected areas because thousands of people are suffering and millions
of
people are consuming arsenic contaminated water and food.
(b). All concerned, that is the Government and non Government
organizations, local government institutions (Gram and union parishad
and municipalities) the World Bank, the development partners and UN
bodies, should work together and share all information, knowledge and
resources in-order to have a sustainable, affordable and integrated
programme because people have been, and continue to suffer.
(c). In-order to achieve the successful model for mitigation,
communities
must be informed and asked to participate in developing appropriate
strategies, and in the long run they must get control of the programme.
(d). The participation of communities in implementing various
mitigation
alternatives is essential for developing a sustainable and affordable
mitigation programme.So communities must decide and chose the
strategies
and models which are approprate to their context
(e). Because the dimension of the arsenic problem has grown beyond
drinking water, urgent research work is required to understand the food
chain arsenic problem and to determine whether it is important . We
call upon government and non government organizations, the World Bank
and other development partners to support scientific programmes, in
order to achieve proper understanding and in-order to give direction to
mitigation programmes for this food chain hazard
(f). All information obtained by various workers in Bangladesh
and also
by
workers in other countries should be systematically arranged and stored
for quick dissemination of this information. Such information centres
should be built urgently and regularly up-dated to help individuals,
groups and communities afflicted to get quick access to knowledge and
information on arsenic contamination
(g). The media should call upon government to allocate special
programmes
on radio and TV and also request the private media to participate in
mass awareness-building efforts in support of arsenic mitigation
Back
to Top
DECLARATION
OF
PARTICIPANTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON
ARSENIC
CONTAMINATION OF GROUND WATER:
CAUSE, EFFECTS
AND REMEDIES,
HELD AT
DHAKA, BANGLADESH FROM FEBRUARY 8 TO 12 , 1998
HENCEFORTH TO
BE CALLED
THE (first) DHAKA DECLERATION
Date: February 12th 1998
We, the participants from different countries, working of different
aspects of the arsenic problem, having visited one of the arsenic
affected villages of Bangladesh and having observed the villagers in
their natural habitat, the arsenic contaminated tubewells, the plight
of
the arsenic affected patients, their suffering and that of their
relatives and having listed to the deliberation and the discussions at
the conference, especially of those from Bangladesh, have come to the
understanding that:
# The groundwater of a significantly large area in Bangladesh
is
contaminated with high concentration of arsenic;
# The cause of this arsenic contamination is geological
# Supply of arsenic free water is the only solution;
# This could also happen in other parts of world ; and
# Coordinated and concerted efforts are needed from National and
International organizations and individuals to overcome this severe
problem.
We, the participants
of this International Conference in Dhaka, do
hereby declare that:-
# The arsenic contamination of groundwater in Bangladesh needs to be
addressed on an emergency basis;
# We shall direct our research for the benefit of all people;
# We shall use our knowledge and expertise and unite resources
available
to us to determine appropriate community based, affordable and
sustainable water supply solution;
# We shall work in a concerted manner to protect and save people from
the
arsenic problem, ensure treatment of all patients and identify those at
risk;
# We agree to share information amongst ourselves, make our findings
freely accessible and allow others to use them for the interest of all
people
# We shall assist in the setting up of organizations/ canters
for
research, training, storage and dissemination and all over the world.
Dhaka Declarations:
one
two
three
four
Arsenic
main Page
Wilson website