Flood in a Changing Climate: The Impact on Livelihood and How the Rural Poor Cope in Bangladesh

TLDR

Climate change is intensifying the global water cycle, increasing flood hazards, and Bangladesh is experiencing a rising trend of frequent flood disasters that devastate rural livelihoods by causing job loss, income reductions, and forcing communities into debt and asset loss. The study aims to map flood impacts in Goalanda Upazilla, assess how floods affect rural poor livelihoods and occupations, and learn from their coping strategies. The authors conduct an empirical field study in Goalanda Upazilla, Rajbari district, to construct a flood impact tree for the area.

Abstract

It is already documented that climate change will lead to an intensification of the global water cycle with a consequent increase in flood hazards. Bangladesh is also facing an increasing trend of flood disasters. Among the various risks and disasters in Bangladesh, flood is the most common and frequent. Floods make people vulnerable, as they take away their livelihoods at the first instance and leave them with little resources to overcome from the situation. Because of floods, rural poor communities face job loss, and two-thirds of their income is reduced, which limits their capabilities of preparedness, response, and recovery to subsequent floods. People cope with the situation by bearing substantial debts and a loss of productive assets. With an empirical field study in one of the most flood-prone upazilas (sub-districts) of Bangladesh, namely Goalanda Upazilla of the Rajbari district, this study intends to draw a “flood impact tree” of the study area. It also examines the impacts of flood on the livelihood of the rural poor and explores their coping strategies. This paper aims to facilitate an understanding of the impact of floods on their livelihood, especially on the income and occupations of the rural poor. At the same time, it aims to learn from their coping mechanisms.