Building disaster resilient coastal community in a multi-hazard prone area of Bangladesh | |
| Author | Islam, Md. Rabiul |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.DM-10-02 |
| Subject(s) | Hazard mitigation--Bangladesh Disaster relief--Bangladesh |
| Note | Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. DM-10-02 |
| Abstract | The main focus of this study is to understand and assess the present status of community resiliency in a multi-hazard prone coastal area of Bangladesh. Assessing the community resiliency, the study has investigated the mitigation and preparedness activities and unfolded the response and recovery process as well as existing practices and felt needs at household and community levels. Attaining the objectives, this study is designed by some core sections. First section focused on disaster vulnerability and conceptual understanding of resiliency based on the existing literature. The second section described the methods of the study where by using the multi-stage cluster sampling techniques a multi-hazard prone coastal Upazilla has been chosen. From there, two most affected coastal villages have been taken purposively and 90 respondents' selected randomly. At the same time, data was collected through a structured interview schedule along with observation, FGD and case study methods. In addition, statistical tools and procedures were also used in analyzing and presenting the data. Nonetheless, third part of this study focused on the major findings where four analytical attributes of this study such as mitigation and preparedness activities as well as response and recovery process have been discussed. The study findings revealed that in case of major mitigation and preparedness programs the overall conditions of study area were poor. In this regard, insufficient shelter center and awareness program, unprotected embankments, weak house, water and food scarcity, lack of credible early warning as well as training and evacuation have made the community insecure and vulnerable. On the other hand, regarding response and recovery process search and rescue, first aid, relief and rehabilitation as well as repairing damaged house, people's participation in rebuilding process, community leaders' involvement and alternative livelihood options were also below standard which could not assist properly to the affected community to re-back in the pre-disaster situation. Simultaneously, fourth section assessed the level of community resiliency based on four analytical attributes and indicators. In this regard, five point measurement scale and Weighted Average Index were used. In this regard, the findings showed that studied community was moderate level of resilient though its' disaster vulnerability was very high. Finally, the study has recommended some strategies by which disaster resilient community may be built where it desires disaster risk reduction (DRR) programs should be run through the community based organizations and community itself as well as it needs to be integrated into the national development plans. At the same time, disseminating reliable early warning, construction the embankments and new shelter center, rain water harvesting, strengthening relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction works and creating alternative job opportunities have been recommended. This study has also emphasized on proper implementation of existing DRR policies, plans and programs through participatory decision making, multi-agency and multi-level coordination |
| Year | 2010 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. DM-10-02 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management (DM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Routray, Jayant K.;Ahmad, Mokbul Morshed; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Pennung Warnitchai; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Sweden (Sida); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2010 |