Building climate change resilience in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, as well as one of the most disaster-prone. Its people are used to annual floods and frequent cyclones, but climate change is bringing rising sea levels, higher temperatures, lower rainfall, and unpredictable extreme weather to add to their challenges.

Two-thirds of the country is less than five metres above sea level. Rising sea levels are eroding low-lying land from under the feet of poor coastal communities.

People in extreme poverty struggle with a lack of food, clean water and sanitation. They are excluded from social services, education and healthcare. All of this leaves them especially vulnerable to destructive environmental forces.

Four years ago, Islamic Relief began working with extremely poor families – particularly those in which women were the main breadwinner – in Tazumuddin. By simultaneously working on different areas of need, the organization enhanced family incomes enabled children to go to school and met basic needs such as food, safe water and sanitation.

Over four years, 3,000 extremely poor households have benefited from the comprehensive project, gaining enhanced income, food, livelihood security, basic services and resilience to the ravages of climate change.

Original source: Islamic Relief
Published on 01 April 2019