Bangladesh
Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and the effects of climate change. The Government of Bangladesh and international donors support a variety of resilience and disaster preparedness activities.
Overview
Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. The last two decades in Bangladesh have seen progress in poverty reduction, but these results have been uneven in their impact, and their sustainability is continually threatened in Bangladesh’s increasingly complex risk environment. Bangladesh experiences catastrophic cyclones, tornadoes and flooding. In addition, nearly one million Rohingya refugees fleeing Burma recently arrived in Bangladesh. The Government of Bangladesh has been proactive in improving disaster preparedness and mitigating against hydrological disasters, and international donors support a variety of resilience-strengthening and disaster preparedness activities.
Risk Environment
Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters, including cyclones, floods, earthquakes and landslides. Given Bangladesh’s topography, long and complex coastline, high population and increasing urbanization, of particular concern are climate projections of more frequent and intense droughts, rainfall, sea-level rise and cyclones. Major challenges in Bangladesh include:
- Population growth.
- Climate change.
- Economic instability.
- Political instability.
- Inadequate governance mechanisms.
- Inadequate human resource capacity to manage risks.
Recurring shocks and stresses, already a substantial part of Bangladesh’s risk profile, will require significant resilience from Bangladeshi households, communities and systems to prevent declines in development outcomes and backsliding into poverty. In addition, nearly one million Rohingya refugees have arrived in Cox’s Bazar since 2015 and there is no foreseeable end to this displacement crisis.
Resilience Approaches
The Government of Bangladesh has been proactive in taking important steps toward disaster preparedness and mitigating against hydrological disasters. In addition, international donors support a number of resilience-building activities, including:
- Establishing early warning systems.
- Constructing cyclone shelters.
- Strengthening the capacity of local governments and communities to respond to disasters.
- Developing tools for disaster risk financing and insurance.
- Increasing agricultural production and improving food security.
- Protecting the country’s natural resources and biodiversity.
Moving ahead, international donors can build on these efforts while also seeking sustainable solutions to the Rohingya crisis and the scale of future environmental shocks and stresses.
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