Bangladesh is known to be highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, ranking seventh globally in the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index released by Germanwatch. From May to August 2024, the country faced four significant natural disasters, including Cyclone Remal and extensive flash floods in the southeastern regions. The crisis often hits the southwest coastal districts the hardest.
In places like Shyamnagar, Gabura, and Burigoalini in Satkhira, there is evidence of a growing trend of forced displacement, destruction of agricultural livelihoods, and an increase in the vulnerability of women to climate-related challenges. Studies indicate that issues like salinity intrusion and reduced crop yields in various upazilas of Satkhira disproportionately impact women, who are typically responsible for subsistence farming, water collection, and household food security.
A recent study published in the journal “Frontiers in Public Health” titled “Menstrual hygiene management in flood-affected Bangladesh: Addressing socio-cultural barriers, infrastructure gaps, and policy responses” sheds light on the difficulties women face in managing menstrual hygiene during floods in districts such as Noakhali, Feni, Barishal, Khulna, and Satkhira. The study reveals multiple obstacles, including limited access to sanitary products, inadequate sanitation facilities in shelters, and deeply ingrained cultural taboos surrounding menstruation. Women are often compelled to use unhygienic materials like cloth, leaves, or even newspapers, putting their health at risk. The lack of privacy and social stigma further compound their challenges. However, menstrual issues are just a fraction of the broader vulnerabilities women face during and after natural disasters.
Given these circumstances, there is an urgent need to shift from conventional poverty-focused initiatives to adaptive social protection (ASP) strategies that integrate social safety nets with disaster readiness and climate resilience.
While Bangladesh has made significant strides in establishing a social protection system for vulnerable groups since the introduction of the National Social Protection Strategy in 2015, many climate-affected women in coastal regions still do not benefit from these programs. These women are often excluded from official assistance lists due to a lack of formal documentation or fixed addresses, rendering them invisible to the support system. This underscores the importance of ASP, which not only addresses poverty but also enhances resilience to environmental shocks.
In regions like coastal Satkhira, ASP must be customized to meet the specific needs of women. This involves several essential adjustments:
1. Prioritizing climate-vulnerable women, including those displaced or living in disaster-prone areas, in beneficiary selection criteria.
2. Directing cash transfers to women’s mobile accounts for swift and secure aid delivery.
3. Offering skills training in climate-resilient agriculture, healthcare, IT, and construction, rather than traditional roles, with accessible training through mobile units or community centers.
4. Involving women in community-level planning and decision-making processes for early warning systems and disaster response.
5. Integrating menstrual hygiene and maternal health support into disaster preparedness to address women’s basic needs during crises.
Bangladesh has already demonstrated the feasibility of rapid and targeted support through digital cash transfers during emergencies. The focus now needs to shift towards inclusivity, accessibility, and gender sensitivity in social protection programs.
Adaptive social protection is not just about immediate relief but about ensuring long-term dignity and resilience. It safeguards against setbacks caused by disasters and upholds the progress made by vulnerable communities. Strengthening ASP for women in coastal regions is not only a developmental imperative but also a national obligation and a matter of justice.