Climate change impacts and adaptations on health of Internally Displaced People (IDP): An exploratory study on coastal areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

Every year thousands of people are being displaced in coastal areas of Bangladesh due to natural calamities associated with climate change, known as Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs). Climate change adaptation measures play a significant role in coping with the alteration of climatic components, while various forms of barriers hinder the sustainability of adaptation. This research was conducted to understand the perception of IDPs on climate change impact on health in the coastal areas of Bangladesh, including the adaptation practices and barriers to the coping strategies. To fulfill the objective, 420 individual surveys were conducted randomly in two Sub-districts of Khulna district in Bangladesh. The findings reveal that the riverbank erosion and cyclones were the primary reasons for displacement, and the social relationships were hampered in the new places of living. Also, the temperature in summer and winter, and the rainfall intensity increased, whereas rainfall slightly decreased over the last ten years. Differences of opinion were identified about the effects of the changing climatic variables on the respondents' health between the previous and present locations. Despite practicing different adaptive strategies, the weak financial condition and a lack of access to health care information are mostly hindering the sustainability of adaptation. This research may help policymakers in taking proper initiatives to ensure sustainable adaptation practices in the coastal areas.

A systematic review of the health of internal migrants in Bangladesh

“…Retrieved studies focused on rural to urban migration. With the exception of four studies, that mentioned migration was involuntary, [24][25][26][27] other studies did not mention if migration was involuntary or voluntary. Except for one study that adopted a longitudinal design, the remaining studies utilised a cross-sectional design.…”

“…33 Three studies reported general health problems like waterborne (diarrhoea, skin diseases, cholera, jaundice) and vector borne diseases (dengue, chikungunya, malaria), fever and cough. 27,28,50 3.2 | Healthcare access…”

COP26: what is the message for public health?

“…Nous avons aussi plus que jamais besoin d’une perspective mondiale. Des phénomènes climatiques comme les rivières atmosphériques qui ont emporté des routes et inondé des fermes en Colombie-Britannique sont d’une très grande importance localement, mais ces phénomènes font piètre figure face aux sécheresses et aux inondations dans les pays du Sud, qui ont des conséquences dévastatrices pour les populations : famines, migrations forcées et conflits politiques (Leal Filho et al, 2021 ; Kelley et al, 2015 ; Chowdhury et al, 2020 ). C’est la première ministre de la Barbade, Mia Mottley ( 2021 ), qui a posé la question le plus succinctement à la CdP-26 : « Peut-il y avoir paix et prospérité si un tiers du monde vit dans la prospérité et que les deux tiers vivent sous les mers et font face à des menaces catastrophiques pour notre bien-être?…”

“…Furthermore, we need a global perspective more than ever. While climate events like atmospheric rivers washing out highways and flooding farms in BC are having tremendous significance locally, such climate events pale in comparison to droughts and flooding across the Global South that are devastating large populations of people in the form of famines, forced migration, and political conflict (Leal Filho et al, 2021 ; Kelley et al, 2015 ; Chowdhury et al, 2020 ). Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley ( 2021 ) posed the question most succinctly at COP26, “Can there be peace and prosperity in one third of the world if two thirds are under siege and facing calamitous threats to their well-being?”…”

Adaptation to Climate Change among Farmers in Drought-Hit Region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

“…Climate change is one of the most challenging issues of the 21st century having widespread impacts on the societies and environment (IPCC, 2018). It is posing a serious risk to the global community particularly the developing nations who are continuously facing a vulnerable situation with the increase in intensity and frequency of extreme weather events (Chowdhury et al, 2020). A recent report by the IPCC, (2018) highlighted that by 2050, around 150 million people will be displaced due to climate change-induced phenomena around the world.…”