Bangladesh fact sheet

Introduction

Bangladesh is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, exposed to a variety of natural hazards including cyclones, floods and earthquakes. Its high population density (1,252 people per square kilometres in 2016) exacerbates the impact of disasters. Continuing population growth and environmental degradation may further aggravate the intensity of disasters in the future, contributing to a significant increase in humanitarian needs; malnutrition is also a major concern.

Bangladesh is also the setting of two crises: the Rohingya refugees in the southeast and the marginalised ethnic minorities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

What are the needs?

Bangladesh ranked sixth amongst the world’s top 10 countries most affected by extreme weather events between 1996 and 2015. Being mostly low-lying and in the confluence of two large Asian rivers (the Ganges and the Brahmaputra), much of the country is prone to seasonal flooding and vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The south-western region, particularly Satkhira district, has witnessed recurring cycles of waterlogging while flooding and saline intrusion have also affected food security and livelihoods.

The country is also host to one of the most intractable refugee crises in the world: the Rohingya crisis. This ethnic, religious and linguistic minority is subject to exclusion and discrimination in their home country Myanmar/Burma, resulting in many of them seeking refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh for the last 30 years. Following major outbreaks of violent incidents in northern parts of Rakhine state in October 2016 and August 2017, almost 700 000 Rohingyas have fled across the border into Bangladesh in search of protection and assistance. The sudden and drastic surge in the number of Rohingya arrivals has put a tremendous strain on existing humanitarian services. The vast majority have not been granted refugee status and are referred to as “undocumented Myanmar nationals” by the government of Bangladesh. Without legal status they are unable to pursue education or formal employment and remain vulnerable to exploitation and serious protection risks. It is estimated more than 900 000 unregistered Rohingyas are currently living in Bangladesh.

Read full report here.

Original source: European Commission.
Posted on 19 October 2017