DISASTER VULNERABILITY OF COASTAL FISHERS INPATUAKHALI REGION OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

Bangladesh is ranked as one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries in the world, mainly due to its geographical location and socio-economic context of vulnerable population. Natural disasters like cyclones, storm surges, floods, droughts, river bank erosions are regular phenomena in the coastal region of Bangladesh, prompting substantial damage to the livelihood assets as well as to the environment. Among the affected coastal communities, coastal fishers is one of the most exposed and suffered community to natural disasters because they live close to coast, their occupation related water resources and they are among “the poorest of the poor”. In spite of having a key role in the livelihoods and food securities for a significant proportion of the population and economy in the country coastal fisheries has failed to create enough attention from research and policy areas. Considering above mentioned context, the present study investigates the disaster vulnerabilities of coastal fishers who are residing in Patuakhali region of Bangladesh. Primary data collected through fieldwork in three fishing communities of using different data collection tools, individual interview, Focus Group Discussion and key informant interview. Secondary data was collected from different scholar’s articles, reports of GOs and NGOs. To analyse the vulnerability context of coastal fishers to natural disasters, conceptual framework of Pressure and Release (PAR) was employed. Pressure and Release (PAR) model depicts that a disaster is the intersection of two opposite forces: the processes generating vulnerability on one side, and physical exposure to hazard on the other side. Following this framework, the present study revealed that disaster vulnerabilities of coastal fisher communities can be categorized into three main interconnected factors like root causes, dynamic pressures and unsafe conditions. Poor economic system, limited access to resources, structure and power are the root causes of vulnerabilities which were identified by the local fishers. Dynamic pressures such as lack of education, training and market facilities seriously undermine the adaptive capacity which was compounded by high population growth, low productivity of fisheries etc. That altogether transform the effects of root causes into disaster vulnerability. Besides, dangerous location, unprotected areas, risky livelihoods, low income level, high debt bondage, weak disaster warning system and lack of disaster preparedness were recognized as unsafe conditions by the respondents which make them more susceptible to disasters. This study also explored that coastal fishers adopt multiple coping strategies to protect themselves from disasters which vary based on their locations. The coping strategies include moving to protective shelters, storing dried food, keeping domestic animal and other valuable materials in high and safe place, collecting relief materials, stop fishing and returning to the coast, preparing life supporting equipment, repairing damaged boats and nets, searching for alternative income sources etc.