People’s Vulnerability, Risk and coping strategies in regard to natural Disaster: A study in Sathkhira District

Abstract

Bangladesh is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world. Natural disaster is common phenomenon in Bangladesh, because of the climate and geographical location. Especially the coastal areas are most disaster prone areas and the people of coastal areas are most disaster affected people. The development efforts are frequently interrupted due to natural disaster. Every disaster caused a huge damage of assets and lives, it also severely affected the environment example cyclone ‘Sidr’‘Aila’ and ‘Mahasen’.

The major disaster of Bangladesh is cyclone, Flood tidal surge, riverbank erosion, drought etc., History reveals that, with in last 100 years there were 60 cyclone, 54 flood (out of them 6 were deluge) 25 earthquake. Natural disaster is an inevitable and integral part of human history it cannot be eradicated and dispelled out but awareness and preparedness can reduce the damage.

In this situation, Government organization and NGOs played very vital role at that time disaster management, especially community based disaster management, peoples coping strategy and a number of NGOs have been running long term development programs aiming for reducing the vulnerability, creating awareness and enhancement of capacities of the poor to live with disaster during the disaster period. Women are the most vulnerable group women, children and disabled person are usually at greater risk than men it is the women who make it possible for the community to cope with disaster. The role of women is absolutely central to the management of disaster coping strategy. The present studies intend to focus on how people are coping with disaster maintaining their livelihood and return to their normal life, it is also expected that the study will also find vulnerabilities and risks in relation to natural hazard and disasters.