Climate Change Impact: The Experience of the Coastal Areas of Bangladesh Affected by Cyclones Sidr and Aila

• Published in: Journal of Environmental and Public Health Vol. 2016; no. 2016; pp. 343 - 351
• Main Authors: Caldwell, Kay, Ball, Emma, Khan, Hafiz T. A., Kabir, Russell
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Limiteds 01.01.2016; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Analysis; Bangladesh; Climate Change; Climate effects; Climatic changes; Coastal zone; Coasts; Cyclones; Cyclonic Storms; Data collection; Disasters - statistics & numerical data; Environmental aspects; Environmental impact; Health Status; Humans; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomics; Bangladesh; ISW, Bangladesh; Bangladesh, Khulna Dist
• ISSN: 1687-9805; 1687-9813
• DOI: 10.1155/2016/9654753

Bangladesh is considered one of the countries most at risk to the effects of climate change and its coastal area is most vulnerable. This study tries to explore the experiences of cyclones Sidr and Aila affected people living in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. This study was conducted in the cyclone Sidr affected Amtali Upazila of Barguna District and in the cyclone Aila affected Koyra Upazila of Khulna District. Primary data collection was done using Focus Group Interview and then a thematic analysis approach was used for analysis. Three core themes emerged from the analysis and they are, firstly, impacts of climate change on the socioeconomic condition of the people, secondly, the impact on the health status of the population, and finally the impact on vulnerable people. Findings show that the effects of climate change have serious consequences on the livelihood patterns of the affected population and on their overall health status. As a result, the unfavorable health condition of these affected people makes them more vulnerable to various emerging diseases.