Assessment on Social Vulnerability and Response Towards Natural Disaster in A Disaster-Prone Coastal Village: An Example from Bangladesh

Due to geographical locations, the Southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh is frequently experiencing climate change induced disasters such as cyclones, floods, and tidal surges. However, local communities at this region have a long history of coping with the adverse effects of these disasters. Co...

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Main Authors: Md. Humayain Kabir, Tanvir Hossain
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) Universitas Syiah Kuala 2021-04-01
Series:International Journal of Disaster Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/IJDM/article/view/19482
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author Md. Humayain Kabir
Tanvir Hossain
author_facet Md. Humayain Kabir
Tanvir Hossain
author_sort Md. Humayain Kabir
collection DOAJ
description Due to geographical locations, the Southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh is frequently experiencing climate change induced disasters such as cyclones, floods, and tidal surges. However, local communities at this region have a long history of coping with the adverse effects of these disasters. Consequently, this research assessed the social vulnerability towards natural disasters through local peoples’ perception and identified the existing immediate response against natural disasters at Kazirchar village in Muladi Upazila of Barishal district of the coastal region. In this study, a well-structured questionnaire survey, and focus group discussions were conducted to collect primary data. The collected data were processed and analysed to present the existing impacts of natural disasters. Besides, the immediate responses were categorized into different sectors. The study found that, the most prevalent coastal disaster in Kazirchar village was cyclone. About 48% of surveyed respondents opined that high cost of living was the main reason for increasing the vulnerability towards disasters. To adapt with disaster impacts, 58% respondents of this village need to travel long distances to collect drinking water. On the other hand, during flood, 26% people took shelter on government-owned high lands, whereas 40% shifted temporarily to their neighbors who are living in house with a high land elevation. This research concludes that the village has a low prior preparedness against various disasters, less knowledge about disaster, less coordination and poor collaboration between government organization (GOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) regarding disaster risk reduction. It is expected that this study will act as a source of information for taking natural disaster management initiatives and the findings of this study will push the policy makers to develop and implement long term adaptation strategies in coastal areas of Bangladesh particularly in Barishal district.
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spelling doaj.art-bd3a4384e1024dda8c91ecc115c8bd162023-06-20T02:03:29ZengTsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) Universitas Syiah KualaInternational Journal of Disaster Management2808-439X2527-43412021-04-0141396010.24815/ijdm.v4i1.1948212673Assessment on Social Vulnerability and Response Towards Natural Disaster in A Disaster-Prone Coastal Village: An Example from BangladeshMd. Humayain Kabir0Tanvir Hossain1Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change, University of Graz, AustriaInstitute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, BangladeshDue to geographical locations, the Southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh is frequently experiencing climate change induced disasters such as cyclones, floods, and tidal surges. However, local communities at this region have a long history of coping with the adverse effects of these disasters. Consequently, this research assessed the social vulnerability towards natural disasters through local peoples’ perception and identified the existing immediate response against natural disasters at Kazirchar village in Muladi Upazila of Barishal district of the coastal region. In this study, a well-structured questionnaire survey, and focus group discussions were conducted to collect primary data. The collected data were processed and analysed to present the existing impacts of natural disasters. Besides, the immediate responses were categorized into different sectors. The study found that, the most prevalent coastal disaster in Kazirchar village was cyclone. About 48% of surveyed respondents opined that high cost of living was the main reason for increasing the vulnerability towards disasters. To adapt with disaster impacts, 58% respondents of this village need to travel long distances to collect drinking water. On the other hand, during flood, 26% people took shelter on government-owned high lands, whereas 40% shifted temporarily to their neighbors who are living in house with a high land elevation. This research concludes that the village has a low prior preparedness against various disasters, less knowledge about disaster, less coordination and poor collaboration between government organization (GOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) regarding disaster risk reduction. It is expected that this study will act as a source of information for taking natural disaster management initiatives and the findings of this study will push the policy makers to develop and implement long term adaptation strategies in coastal areas of Bangladesh particularly in Barishal district.https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/IJDM/article/view/19482bangladeshclimate changedisaster managementadverse impactscoping strategies
spellingShingle Md. Humayain Kabir
Tanvir Hossain
Assessment on Social Vulnerability and Response Towards Natural Disaster in A Disaster-Prone Coastal Village: An Example from Bangladesh
International Journal of Disaster Management
bangladesh
climate change
disaster management
adverse impacts
coping strategies
title Assessment on Social Vulnerability and Response Towards Natural Disaster in A Disaster-Prone Coastal Village: An Example from Bangladesh
title_full Assessment on Social Vulnerability and Response Towards Natural Disaster in A Disaster-Prone Coastal Village: An Example from Bangladesh
title_fullStr Assessment on Social Vulnerability and Response Towards Natural Disaster in A Disaster-Prone Coastal Village: An Example from Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed Assessment on Social Vulnerability and Response Towards Natural Disaster in A Disaster-Prone Coastal Village: An Example from Bangladesh
title_short Assessment on Social Vulnerability and Response Towards Natural Disaster in A Disaster-Prone Coastal Village: An Example from Bangladesh
title_sort assessment on social vulnerability and response towards natural disaster in a disaster prone coastal village an example from bangladesh
topic bangladesh
climate change
disaster management
adverse impacts
coping strategies
url https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/IJDM/article/view/19482
work_keys_str_mv AT mdhumayainkabir assessmentonsocialvulnerabilityandresponsetowardsnaturaldisasterinadisasterpronecoastalvillageanexamplefrombangladesh
AT tanvirhossain assessmentonsocialvulnerabilityandresponsetowardsnaturaldisasterinadisasterpronecoastalvillageanexamplefrombangladesh