Women's vulnerability to water-related hazards: comparing three areas affected by climate change in Bangladesh

M.D. Golam Rabbani; A. Atiq Rahman; Khandaker Mainuddin

doi:10.3362/1756-3488.2009.025

Women's vulnerability to water-related hazards: comparing three areas affected by climate change in Bangladesh

M.D. Golam Rabbani | A. Atiq Rahman | Khandaker Mainuddin

Various climate change-related events such as heatwaves, cold waves, flood, drought, sea-level rise (SLR), salinity intrusion and cyclones have both direct and indirect adverse impacts on human beings. This paper is primarily based on a study conducted to explore gender vulnerability at the community level due to water-related natural hazards (flood, drought and salinity intrusion) and possible coping mechanisms. Both secondary and primary data have been used and analysed to identify vulnerability. The study indicates that the extreme events (e.g. flood, drought and salinity intrusion) have adverse impacts which are different for different population groups. In reality, women are affected more severely: their role is quite negligible in decision making, and participation in training related to climate change issues are also insignificant. This implies that the effects of climate change-related events on women are quite conspicuous compared with other population groups.

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