Vulnerability and coping strategies of older women in disaster: Study on a coastal Upazila of Bangladesh

Abstract

Introduction: Natural disaster is a common phenomenon in Bangladesh. Almost every year Bangladesh suffers highly by different kinds of disasters like flood, tropical cyclones, tornados, tidal surges, droughts and large scale river erosion etc. Bangladesh is a low lying delta with very gentle slopes. These special geographical features have significant impact on the weather system of Bangladesh. Objectives: The present study focuses on the vulnerability and coping strategies of older women. To achieve general purpose this study also seeks to know their personal, family information, their disaster experiences, vulnerability and their copy strategies after disaster. Methodology: The present study is qualitative in nature. Case study has been taken as research method using FGDs as research technique. Taltoli upazilla which is a part of Barguna district area have been selected which are badly affected by cyclone SIDR, AILA, riverbank erosion and other natural calamities in recent year. Major Findings: This study includes ten case study and two focused group discussions .the sample of the study consists of almost 60 or above 60 years older women live in a coastal upazilla named Taltoli. The study shows that most of the participants belong to Muslim community and 2 others belong to Hindu and Rakhain community. Participants are the symbol of older people in our society who has horrible experiences with many disasters. Two FGDs were conducted. One FGD consists of 11 members and others are 15 members. Most of the women are under Primary school certificate (PSC) and one participant is HSC passed. Most of them had no formal education. So, high literacy rate of the participants was not found in the study both in case study and FGDs. Most of the women had lugubrious experiences with many disasters. Mainly they were affected by cyclone occurred in 1991, Sidr in 2007, Aila in 2009 and Mahasen in 2013. Most of the women lost their property. Most of them lost their main source of income. Sidr was the most catastrophic disaster they had ever seen. Most of the women lost their husbands, children, grandchildren and patents. They also mentioned that they did not go to the cyclone shelter due to insufficient number of shelter and vehicles. After disaster, though they got some relief but it was not sufficient for their family. There is badly scarcity of food and cloths. They also suffer from many diseases after disasters. The collected data indicate that after disaster they face different kinds of economic and physical problem. Conclusion: The respondents recommended that free medical treatment, reduce price of daily foods, rehabilitation program for older women, positive outlook towards the older women and empathetic behavior of the family members with the elderly are important. They also want that Government and NGOs should come forward for the wellbeing of older women in all respect. This data indicate that the older women need more care and all the people should come forward to help them.