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Accessibility Situation of Persons with Disabilities in
the
Southeastern Coast of Bangladesh in Relation to
Climate Change and Disaster Management
Prabal Barua
1
*, Morshed
Hossan Molla
1
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2
Department of
Geography and Environmental
Received on: October 10, 2019 Accepted on:
December 22,
ABSTRACT
The research attempts to explore the accessibility and contemporary situation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the
belt of Bangladesh in relation to
climate change and
from the
Southern Coast of Bangladesh. Inaccessible conditions were existing at home and homestead areas o
area. The overall findings of the report
identify a lot of big gaps or undesired conditions about the accessibility of disabling peoples in the
study area. At this point of views, the researchers suggested for Enumeration of Disab
Persons with Disabilities Act 2013,
Setup ‘Accessible Spot Point’ in rural area, S
Code’, PWDs friendly shelter centre and
Strengthening of Organ
management strategy development to PWDS
in Bangladesh.
Keywords:
Persons with Disabilities, Southern Coast of Bangladesh, cyclone shelters
I
NTRODUCTION
Climate change is a
mongst the most dreaded problems in the
new millennium. The effects of climate change can be seen all
over the world. One of the most serious consequences of
climate change is that people are being forced to leave their
homes, lands and livelihood because
they have been destroyed
by the effects of climate change. These processes stand to
displace many tens of millions of people in coming years. The
coast of Bangladesh is prone to severe natural disasters, such as
cyclones, storm surges and floods in combina
natural and man-
made hazards, such as erosion, the high arsenic
contents of groundwater, saline water intrusion, waterlogging,
water and soil salinity these disasters have made coastal
dwellers very vulnerable and made the whole coastal and
marine environment threatened (Barua et al.,
2016; Barua
Rahman, 2018; Islam, 2004
). Coastal areas constitute about 2.5
million hectares which amount to about 25 percent of the total
cropland of the country, nearly 0.84 million hectares are
affected b
y varying intensities of salinity, resulting in very poor
land utilization (Barua &
Rahman, 2017; Barua et al., 2017;
Barua & Rahman, 2018; Barua&
Rahman, 2019).
*Corresponding Author
Email: prabalims@gmail.com
Cite as:Barua, P., &Molla, M. H. (2019).
Accessibility
Situation of Persons with Disabilities in the Southeastern
Coast of Bangladesh in Relation to Climate Change and
Disaster Management. Journal of Disability Stud
ies.
5(2), 11-162.
©IS Publicationshttp://pubs.iscience.in/jds
J. Disability Stud.
201
9
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5
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2
)
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16
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J
OURNAL OF
D
ISABILITY
Accessibility Situation of Persons with Disabilities in
Southeastern Coast of Bangladesh in Relation to
Climate Change and Disaster Management
Hossan Molla
2
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Geography and Environmental
Studies, University of Chittagong, Chittagong,
Bangladesh
December 22,
2019
The research attempts to explore the accessibility and contemporary situation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the
climate change and
disaster management. The study was conducted with a household survey of 206 PWDs
Southern Coast of Bangladesh. Inaccessible conditions were existing at home and homestead areas o
f P
identify a lot of big gaps or undesired conditions about the accessibility of disabling peoples in the
study area. At this point of views, the researchers suggested for Enumeration of Disab
ling Peoples,
Establishment of
Setup ‘Accessible Spot Point’ in rural area, S
trengthening of warning system
Establishment of ‘Building
Strengthening of Organ
ization of Persons with Disabilities (DPOs) for effective disaster
in Bangladesh.
Persons with Disabilities, Southern Coast of Bangladesh, cyclone shelters
mongst the most dreaded problems in the
new millennium. The effects of climate change can be seen all
over the world. One of the most serious consequences of
climate change is that people are being forced to leave their
they have been destroyed
by the effects of climate change. These processes stand to
displace many tens of millions of people in coming years. The
coast of Bangladesh is prone to severe natural disasters, such as
cyclones, storm surges and floods in combina
tion with other
made hazards, such as erosion, the high arsenic
contents of groundwater, saline water intrusion, waterlogging,
water and soil salinity these disasters have made coastal
dwellers very vulnerable and made the whole coastal and
2016; Barua
&
). Coastal areas constitute about 2.5
million hectares which amount to about 25 percent of the total
cropland of the country, nearly 0.84 million hectares are
y varying intensities of salinity, resulting in very poor
Rahman, 2017; Barua et al., 2017;
Rahman, 2019).
A person with a disability (PwDs) is a person having a
physical, intellectual, sensory or
mental impairment which
substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of
that person. More than a billion people currently live with some
form of disability. This makeup about 15 percent of the world
population or about one in seven persons
these live in developing countries. They usually belong to the
poorest populations, because disabilities are closely bound up
with poverty. An estimated one in five of the poorest people
worldwide live with disabilities (WHO, 2011). Ban
world's most densely populated country is also environmentally
one of the most vulnerable regions due to its geographical and
spatial location (MOEF, 2002). In Bangladesh, the total
population is 159.6 million and more than 9.1% of the total
p
opulation have been suffering from various types of disabilities
(BBS, 2011). Bangladesh is ranked as one of the world's most
disaster-
prone countries, with 97.1 percent of its land area and
97.7 percent of its population at risk of multiple hazards. In
ad
dition to the risk of loss of life, victims of natural disasters
face reduced food intake, reduced levels of sanitation and
hygiene, limited access to health care and withdrawal of
children from school for labour and accelerated national poverty
line. Pove
rty has a strong disability dimension. One in five
people living on less than US$2 a day has a disability.
Climate change has become one of the biggest political and
development issues in recent years. It has been well established
that poor people are mor
e vulnerable to climate change due to
transient and/or marginal living and working environments; a
reliance on climate-
sensitive sectors; combined with limited
assets and social security. The United Nations Office for the
High Commission on Human Rights (U
Accessibility
Situation of Persons with Disabilities in the Southeastern
Coast of Bangladesh in Relation to Climate Change and
ies.
11
Research Article
.
ISABILITY
S
TUDIES
Bangladesh
The research attempts to explore the accessibility and contemporary situation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the
Eastern Coastal
disaster management. The study was conducted with a household survey of 206 PWDs
f P
WDs in the whole study
identify a lot of big gaps or undesired conditions about the accessibility of disabling peoples in the
Establishment of
Rights & Protection of
Establishment of ‘Building
ization of Persons with Disabilities (DPOs) for effective disaster
A person with a disability (PwDs) is a person having a
mental impairment which
substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of
that person. More than a billion people currently live with some
form of disability. This makeup about 15 percent of the world
population or about one in seven persons
. Eighty percent of
these live in developing countries. They usually belong to the
poorest populations, because disabilities are closely bound up
with poverty. An estimated one in five of the poorest people
worldwide live with disabilities (WHO, 2011). Ban
gladesh, the
world's most densely populated country is also environmentally
one of the most vulnerable regions due to its geographical and
spatial location (MOEF, 2002). In Bangladesh, the total
population is 159.6 million and more than 9.1% of the total
opulation have been suffering from various types of disabilities
(BBS, 2011). Bangladesh is ranked as one of the world's most
prone countries, with 97.1 percent of its land area and
97.7 percent of its population at risk of multiple hazards. In
dition to the risk of loss of life, victims of natural disasters
face reduced food intake, reduced levels of sanitation and
hygiene, limited access to health care and withdrawal of
children from school for labour and accelerated national poverty
rty has a strong disability dimension. One in five
people living on less than US$2 a day has a disability.
Climate change has become one of the biggest political and
development issues in recent years. It has been well established
e vulnerable to climate change due to
transient and/or marginal living and working environments; a
sensitive sectors; combined with limited
assets and social security. The United Nations Office for the
High Commission on Human Rights (U
NOHCHR) has noted
Journal of Disability Studies
that climate change poses a direct threat to a wide range of
universally recognized human rights. Globally, persons with
disabilities remain amongst those most likely to have their
human rights abused, challenged, unrealized or violated.
most recent UN human rights treaty, the UN Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities, seeks to redress systemic
human rights violations and social exclusion that are commonly
encountered by persons with disabilities.
Persons with disabili
ties face unique challenges during every
stage of emergency and disaster management due to
inaccessible warnings, evacuation, response (including shelters,
camps, and food distribution), and long-
term recovery efforts.
Additionally, disruption to physical,
social, economic, and
environmental networks and support systems affect people with
disabilities in greater proportions. Common experiences reveal
that people with disabilities are more likely to be left behind or
abandoned during an evacuation in disaste
rs and conflicts. They
may be separated from their family members and caregivers, as
well as their assistive devices (e.g. wheelchairs, prosthetics) or
may be unable to operate them in a disaster (e.g. aids that run on
electricity or batteries). Shelters a
nd relief camps are frequently
inaccessible to persons with disabilities, and they may be unable
to easily access food and water distribution centres. The paucity
of statistical data on persons with disabilities and limited
knowledge on how to respond to t
heir needs is another factor
that heightens their vulnerability in a disaster or emergency
(Molla et al., 2019; Smith et al., 2012).
Bangladesh is the worst disaster-
prone country in the world
and more than 28% of people in coastal areas, as well as whole
country people, is vulnerable to climate change and other
related disasters. Unfortunately, no research work or
information was found about p
ersons with
involvedness with disaster management program in Bangladesh.
Alternatively, Persons with
disabilities face unique challenges
during every stage of emergency and disaster management due
to inaccessible warnings, evacuation, response (including
shelters, camps, and food distribution), and long
efforts. Pre-existing inequities may c
onstrain their ability to
access aid, acute trauma care, and relief services compounding
their vulnerability during a disaster. In many cases, a vicious
cycle is set in motion as persons with existing disabilities or
those who acquire disabilities in a dis
aster face greater
inequities during recovery and reconstruction due to challenges
in re-
integrating into the workforce, finding accessible housing,
getting access to health and social services, and increasing
dependency due to inaccessible infrastructure
2013). The ultimate objective of the study is to investigate the
accessibility and contemporary situation of PwDs in the
southeastern coastal b
elt of Bangladesh priorities on climate
change and disaster management.
M
ETHOD
To formulate the me
thodological framework of this project
work, primary field and secondary (literature) survey was done.
The primary field survey has been collected two types of data,
i.e. qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative data were collected
through Participant Observation (PO),
Key Informant
(KII), Focus Group Discussion (FGD
) and photography
J. Disability Stud., 2019
,
5
(
2
),
11
that climate change poses a direct threat to a wide range of
universally recognized human rights. Globally, persons with
disabilities remain amongst those most likely to have their
human rights abused, challenged, unrealized or violated.
The
most recent UN human rights treaty, the UN Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities, seeks to redress systemic
human rights violations and social exclusion that are commonly
ties face unique challenges during every
stage of emergency and disaster management due to
inaccessible warnings, evacuation, response (including shelters,
term recovery efforts.
social, economic, and
environmental networks and support systems affect people with
disabilities in greater proportions. Common experiences reveal
that people with disabilities are more likely to be left behind or
rs and conflicts. They
may be separated from their family members and caregivers, as
well as their assistive devices (e.g. wheelchairs, prosthetics) or
may be unable to operate them in a disaster (e.g. aids that run on
nd relief camps are frequently
inaccessible to persons with disabilities, and they may be unable
to easily access food and water distribution centres. The paucity
of statistical data on persons with disabilities and limited
heir needs is another factor
that heightens their vulnerability in a disaster or emergency
prone country in the world
and more than 28% of people in coastal areas, as well as whole
country people, is vulnerable to climate change and other
related disasters. Unfortunately, no research work or
ersons with
disabilities
involvedness with disaster management program in Bangladesh.
disabilities face unique challenges
during every stage of emergency and disaster management due
to inaccessible warnings, evacuation, response (including
shelters, camps, and food distribution), and long
-term recovery
onstrain their ability to
access aid, acute trauma care, and relief services compounding
their vulnerability during a disaster. In many cases, a vicious
cycle is set in motion as persons with existing disabilities or
aster face greater
inequities during recovery and reconstruction due to challenges
integrating into the workforce, finding accessible housing,
getting access to health and social services, and increasing
dependency due to inaccessible infrastructure
(Raja et al.,
2013). The ultimate objective of the study is to investigate the
accessibility and contemporary situation of PwDs in the
elt of Bangladesh priorities on climate
thodological framework of this project
work, primary field and secondary (literature) survey was done.
The primary field survey has been collected two types of data,
i.e. qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative data were collected
Key Informant
Interview
) and photography
methods. Quantitative data were collected through a
questionnaire survey.
Emphasizing remarkable works related to
climate change and PwDs in the eastern coastal belt
Bangladesh has given a clear concept about the research.
Comparing the field and secondary level data were important to
justify the reliability of both data of primary and secondary
sources. The valuable suggestions from expert
much hel
pful to give the direction for completing the report and
to provide effective policy guidelines for ensuring sustainable
adaptation to climate change and PwDs in considering the area.
Selection of the study area:
The coastal region of Bangladesh
is densely
populated and about 28% of the population lives here
and expected to increase from 36.8 million in 2001 to 43.9
million in 2015 and 60.8 million by 2050 (BBS 2011). It
consists of 19 districts with an area of 47,201 sq. km which is
about one-third of the
total area of the country and 62 percent of
the land of the coastal zone has an elevation of up to three
meters and 86 percent up to five meters (MoWR, 1999b). The
coastal area of Bangladesh is broadly divided into three regions
such as; western, central
and eastern region (
2001). For conducting the present study s
belt were selected. This coastal belt covered from
Teknaf coastal areas (Figure 1).
Figure 1. The study area South-
Eastern Coast of Bangladesh
Data Collection
The research was conducted both qualitative as well as
quantitative approaches. Qualitative and quantitative data were
collected from two data sources, both primary and secondary.
There are 5 Key Informant Interviews (KII) and 8 Focus Grou
discussion were conducted of South
Bangladesh. Questionnaire survey method is very much popular
for collecting numerical data of any socio
in our society. Total 206 sample size has been conducted with
PwDs from the study areas.
Relevant secondary information
was collected about a
ccessibility and contemporary situation of
Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and climate change with
disaster management in the coastal belt of Bangladesh.
Barua & Molla
11
-
1
6
12
methods. Quantitative data were collected through a
Emphasizing remarkable works related to
climate change and PwDs in the eastern coastal belt
of
Bangladesh has given a clear concept about the research.
Comparing the field and secondary level data were important to
justify the reliability of both data of primary and secondary
sources. The valuable suggestions from expert
-level were very
pful to give the direction for completing the report and
to provide effective policy guidelines for ensuring sustainable
adaptation to climate change and PwDs in considering the area.
The coastal region of Bangladesh
populated and about 28% of the population lives here
and expected to increase from 36.8 million in 2001 to 43.9
million in 2015 and 60.8 million by 2050 (BBS 2011). It
consists of 19 districts with an area of 47,201 sq. km which is
total area of the country and 62 percent of
the land of the coastal zone has an elevation of up to three
meters and 86 percent up to five meters (MoWR, 1999b). The
coastal area of Bangladesh is broadly divided into three regions
and eastern region (
Ali, 1999; Islam
2001). For conducting the present study s
outheastern coastal
belt were selected. This coastal belt covered from
Feni to
Eastern Coast of Bangladesh
The research was conducted both qualitative as well as
quantitative approaches. Qualitative and quantitative data were
collected from two data sources, both primary and secondary.
There are 5 Key Informant Interviews (KII) and 8 Focus Grou
p
discussion were conducted of South
-Eastern coast of
Bangladesh. Questionnaire survey method is very much popular
for collecting numerical data of any socio
-environment events
in our society. Total 206 sample size has been conducted with
Relevant secondary information
ccessibility and contemporary situation of
Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and climate change with
disaster management in the coastal belt of Bangladesh.
Barua & Molla
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13
Data Processing and Analysis
After collections of data from all sources, both qualitative
and quantitative data, primary and secondary were edited,
coded, classified and tabulated the sequential manner.
Quantitative data were interpreted with the help of two analyses
statistical analysis and analytical analysis which was done by
the help of statistical techniques, especially Statistical Package
for The Social Science version-16 (SPSS-16) and various
statistical tools such as tables, charts, graphs, diagrams, figures
and photographs etc.
RESULTS
According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics,
there are over 400 million Persons with Disabilities in the Asia
Pacific Region, (approximately two-thirds of the world's
population of persons with disabilities), with 80 % of them live
in rural areas of the region. Worldwide, 15% of the global
populations, an estimated 1 billion people are living with a
disability (World Health Organization (WHO), 2011. Besides,
almost 14,482,000 peoples were disabling in Bangladesh
(Hossain, 2015).
Information accessibility of PwDs about a natural disaster
and climate change: Cyclone, floods, earthquake and anomalies
of precipitation (drought and rain-flood) are the familiar or
common disaster in the coastal area of Bangladesh. In the
eastern coastal area is more susceptible to natural disaster not
only for PWDs but also total livelihood in coastal areas of
Bangladesh. The present survey found that nearly 68% of
respondents or PwDs peoples were concerned about a natural
disaster and 32% of respondents doesn't concern in the study
area (Figure 2).
The cyclone warning system is the most essential works in
pre and during disaster periods to attempts in coastal areas of
Bangladesh. From the study, it is found that only 1.9% of
respondents opined suitability of an existing cyclone warning
system for PwDs. Besides, almost 64.1% and 32.5% of
respondents were opined that partially and not suitable for an
existing cyclone warning system for PwDs respectively in the
study area (Table1).
During the disaster period, evacuation or rescue activities are
the prime attempts for every volunteer group. Particularly,
pregnant women, children, older persons and disabling peoples
are priorities during the evacuation program. The proper
evacuation program can reduce the casualties and losses of lives
and properties. From the survey, only 1.9% of respondents said
that suitability condition during cyclone disaster activities were
suitable and 18% opined partially suitable for PwDs in the study
area. But nearly 79% of respondents claimed that not suitable
condition during cyclone disaster activities for Persons with
Disabilities in the study area (Table 1).
Table 1 Suitability rate of cyclone/disaster manager activities for PWDs
Suitability Suitable Partially
Suitable
Not
Suitable
Other
Existing cyclone
warning system for
PwDs
1.9 64.1 32.5 1.5
A condition during
cyclone/disaster
activities for PwDs
1.9 18 79.1 1
Post cyclone/disaster
activities for PwDs 1.5 46.1 51.9 0.5
Post cyclone disaster activities are the management initiatives
for the rehabilitation of victims in the coastal area of
Bangladesh. In this time, persons with disabilities from the
study only 1.5% of respondents said, the suitability of post-
cyclone disaster activities for Persons with Disabilities were
suitable and 46.1% opined partially suitable in the study area.
However, nearly 52% of respondents claimed that suitability of
post-cyclone disaster activities for Persons with Disabilities
does not suitably(Table1).
The survey found that nearly 13% of respondents knowing
about climate change increase the natural disaster and as well
39 % opined they don't know about climate change increase the
natural disaster in the study area. It was significant that 45.6%
of respondents claimed that they were concerned and 1.9%
wishes to know, but no scope to learn about climate change
increase the natural disaster (Figure 3).
Cyclone shelter is the important structural measures at
disaster-prone areas in Bangladesh. Entrance route is very much
essential during a rescue period in the coastal area. Different
types of shelter centre have been appearing in the coastal area of
Bangladesh such as cyclone shelter centre, school and madrasah
cum shelter centre and union Parishad cum shelter centre
sometime Paurashava cum cyclone shelter centre. Types of
passage are the most essential things in every shelter centre in
the coastal area as build to safe for rescue people during the
disaster period. Generally, shelter centre builds high land and
the plinth of shelter centre keep high then adjoining topography
for safe rescue peoples from an altitude of water level during
the disaster period. Commonly, two types of passage appearing
such as stairs and slope to entrance of shelter centre and among
floors in the shelter centre. From the study, nearly 91.3% of
respondents said that stairs were the main passage to the
entrance of the shelter centre. Simply 4.9% respondent's opined
gentle slope and 3.8% respondents assumed both of stairs and
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gentle slope were the other passage to entrance of PwDs in
shelter centre.
A small number of PwDs claimed that gentle a slope not only
advantageous passage for disabling peoples but also it
accelerated the smooth entrance of pregnant women and old
rescue peoples by wheelchair. In the study area, maximum
shelter centre or earliest installed shelter centre does not build in
disabled-friendly because these shelter centre passages were
only stairs but newly installed shelter centre keep gentle slope
with stairs in the whole eastern coastal area (Figure 4).
Women living in post-disaster situations are at daily risk of
physical, emotional, economic and social harm in ways that
have no direct parallels for their male counterparts (Davis
&Bookey, 2011). While disability correlates with disadvantage,
not all people with disabilities are equally disadvantaged.
Women with disabilities experience the combined
disadvantages associated with gender as well as disability
(WHO, 2011). Evidence suggests that women are more likely
than men to become disabled during their lives due to access to
fewer resources, receiving less medical attention when ill and
getting less preventative care and immunizations. From the
study, it was found that approximately, 88.8% respondents said
that no privacy exists noticed in shelter centre, but only 2.4%
respondents opined that privacy was fully protected in the study
area (Figure 5).
Although women privacy is the major concern for all, it was
a big concern for Women with Disabilities privacy at every
shelter centre in the whole coastal area. Because every type of
stakeholders was to keep shelter centre during the disaster
period that time women privacy was too much essential at the
shelter level in the study area.
Existing of primary health care facilities is the pre-condition
for every rescue peoples those entrances in shelter centre during
the disaster period. Health care facilities are essential for giving
a primary treatment of rescue peoples, disaster injured peoples,
pregnancy women, children and old peoples. Nearly 61.7% of
respondents said that health care facilities were absent in the
shelter centre and 33% of respondents opined health care
facilities were partially facilitated in the shelter centre. Besides,
only 1.9% of respondents argued that health care facilities were
available in the study area.
Pure drinking water is the precondition for good health.
Maximum respondents (47.6%) said that an insufficient supply
of drinking water, 31.1% opined that does not supply of
drinking water at the shelter centre. Besides, 18.9% of
respondents argued that drinking water availability was average
and 2.4 % respondents expressed available in the study area.
Drinking water availability was alarmed at the shelter centre in
the study area. Persons with Disabilities peoples were claimed
that tube well water was the major sources of drinking water at
the shelter centres in the study area.
From the Focus Group Discussion (FGD)
It is found that 'Bangladesh National Building Code 2006' is
fully violet during the installation of cyclone shelter centres and
'Cyclone Shelter Construction, Maintenance and Management
Policy 2011' totally absent in cyclone shelter centre areas. FGD
respondents claim that stairs are the only entrances route and
way of moving from one floor to another. Gentle slope, lift
system and emergency exit fully absent almost every shelter
centre. The environment of shelter centre is unhygienic and bad
conditions because unhygienic floor and toilet, inadequate of
water supply and medicine and absent of register doctors. No
health care facilities there and shelter dwellers are suffering
from waterborne disease and foods. Shelter centre authorities do
not arrange any types of disable friendly instruments such as a
wheelchair, white cane, stretcher and crunch, etc. Personal
privacy fully absent in shelter centre but it very much essential
for women shelter dwellers. Sometimes temporary privacy
manages by the hanging cloth even sometime dwellers quarrels
with others for unwanted things. Although in Banshkhali
Upazila areas, gentle slope with stairs has been existing in few
cyclone shelter centre those are built newly.
DISCUSSION
Bangladesh is the disaster-prone areas and inhabitants of the
coastal areas of the country familiar with a frequent outbreak of
natural disasters. So, the author found the maximum number of
respondents (68%) concerned about the natural disasters which
are common for the coastal area of Bangladesh. PwDs said that
they were well concerned about the cyclone, flood, earthquake
and drought in the study area. It was remarkable that few
respondents claimed that cyclone and floods are the familiar
disasters in coastal areas, but these disasters didn't hamper their
daily livelihood.
Disaster management experts said that poor warning systems
caused the severe damage to the environment and live and
properties during the 1991 cyclone whereas better warning
system has protected the lives and properties during cyclone
SIDR in 2007 in the coastal area of Bangladesh (Barua et al.,
2017; Barua & Rahman, 2018; Barua et al., 2019). The cyclone
warning system reduces not only the causality of coastal
dwellers but also it helps to keep their valuable resources, take
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essential goods before going cyclone shelter centre and
particularly rescue of pregnant women, children, old persons
and persons with disabilities. From the study, it is recorded that
only 1.9% of respondents opined the suitability of an existing
cyclone warning system for Persons with Disabilities. Besides,
almost 64.1% and 32.5% respondents opined that partially and
not suitable for an existing cyclone warning system for PwDs
respectively in the study area. A number of PwDs claimed that
they resided in marginal or remote areas as a result cyclone
warning signal or siren was not heard in proper time,
alternatively sometimes inadequate miking, lack of proper
dissemination and person to person communication media were
the main backwardness for getting information about cyclone
signal in the study area.
The authors found that only 1.9% of respondents said that
suitability condition during cyclone disaster activities was
suitable for the PWDs in the study areas. PWDs argued that
during disaster non-disable people can save them from
causalities but persons with disabilities too much fatalistic by
nature and the assistances who rescue them. This survey reveals
that the muddy entrance route was commonly appeared in the
rural marginal areas, far distance from Upazila or Paurashava
headquarters and near the coastal areas, their shelter centre were
installed; semi-pucca entrance route seemed in village areas,
these areas were connected with Upazila connected road and
pucca entrance route were looked near to the national highways,
Paurashava and Upazila connected road their shelter centre were
installed. Investigators noticed an infrastructural nameplate,
maximum shelter centres were installed after a nineteen century
and PwDs opined that after 1991 cyclone shelter centres were
installed in the eastern coastal belt of Bangladesh.
Post cyclone disaster activities are the key approaches for
rehabilitation of victims in the coastal area of Bangladesh.
Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation, armed force, donor
agencies between national and international, political parties,
local rich peoples, various governmental and non-governmental
autonomous bodies provide relief and rehabilitation program by
them meditate people in the post-disaster period. The authors
found that only 1.5% of respondents stated that suitability of
post-cyclone disaster activities for PwDs were suitable. As
different types of inequalities explore from this survey,
particularly less consideration of persons with disabilities
during relief and rehabilitation program, relief providing
personnel too much considered their relatives for getting relief,
lack of good management of the relief program, no special
options for providing relief for PwDs. Climate change-induced
natural disaster increasing in Bangladesh and coastal people are
suffering continuously by the cyclone, coastal erosion, flood,
salinity intrusion problem. 45.6% of respondents claimed that
they were concerned about the climate change-induced natural
disasters increasing in the study areas.
Climate change is entirely impacting on life and livelihood of
every people in Bangladesh, particularly negative impacts on
the daily life of the Persons with Disabilities. Due to
inaccessibility, persons with disabilities are facing different
types of a natural disaster like cyclone, tornado and flood. She
claimed that Persons with disabilities did not get a disaster
forecasting signal based on their types of disabilities and they
did not go to the cyclone shelter centre due to inaccessibility. In
Bangladesh, the accessibility of Persons with Disabilities is
inaccessible. Although currently Persons with Disabilities are
involved in 'National Disaster Management Committee' on
behalf of the Government of the People's Republic of
Bangladesh, they are deprived to get their rights during and
post-disaster periods. Persons with Disabilities are too many
vulnerable to climate change-induced disaster at any moment.
For this reason, central planning and management department
take proper initiatives for minimizing the effects of climate
change. At the same time, about climate change-induced
disasters, disaster signal system and provides training programs
for the efficiency of Persons with Disabilities. It is mentionable
that the present government takes proper initiatives and attempts
to encounter any kind of disasters to save persons with
disabilities.
LIMITATIONS
The authors surveyed the accessibility of PWDs on climate
change-induced disaster management activities only on selected
areas of South-Eastern coast of Bangladesh due to time
limitation and funding unavailability. The authors try to start the
household survey on same issue whole coastal area of
Bangladesh in future.
CONCLUSIONS
In Bangladesh, there are about 14,482,716 persons with
disabilities. Physicians, mandate from health officials and
experts, a mandate from disabling health care and assistance
centre concerning departments of national Disabilities Promote
Foundation are provided eleven categories of disabling peoples
in our society. It is a significant portion of the total population
because disabling peoples are the special community in our
family, community, society and country.
According to the Constitution of Bangladesh, all citizens of
the country have the right to enjoy their dignity, fundamental
human rights and have social equality. It does not give new
rights to persons with disabilities. Yet, finding of the research
report, inaccessible conditions exist in everywhere, particularly
homestead areas, during road and transport riding, getting
information about climate change and involve of disaster
management related activities, short-term dwelling at disaster
shelter centre, receiving health care from hospitals, local
governmental level and bank and financial level accessibility for
Persons with Disabilities in Bangladesh. Although, Bangladesh
was signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities and adopted the Rights and Protection
of Persons with Disability Act 2013. The aim of the Act 2013
was to create equal opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
and their full participation in families, communities, and
countries. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities are
dissatisfied in every sector. Besides, the Government of the
People's Republic of Bangladesh and her concerning department
provided different laws, rules and regulations for smooth
livelihood for every citizen in her territory. For, Example,
Bangladesh National Building Code 2006 is a rule and it
ensures the structural safety measures for all in every
infrastructural level especially Persons with Disabilities.
Moreover, Cyclone Shelter Construction, Maintenance and
Management Policy 2011 having the safe dwelling at disaster or
cyclone shelter centre level. Research findings and experts
claimed that considering laws, rules and regulation did not
apply properly to the concerning department and also lack of
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good governance has been accelerating the applying procedures
of these laws, rules and regulation at every level. To willing
helping hands, ensuring apply of all concerning laws, rules and
regulations, government and related NGOs providing (without
paying) disabling peoples friendly instruments and financial
assistance might be accessing their personal, social, community
life.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The overall findings of the report identify a lot of big gaps or
undesired conditions about the accessibility of disabling peoples
in the study area. At this point of views, the researcher has tried
to provide the following recommendations based on
respondent's opinions, Key Informant opinions and Focus
Group Discussion (FGD) along with researcher builds a few
concepts which enrollment as understanding and introducing the
'Accessibility' term; Enumeration of Disabling Peoples;
Establishment of Rights & Protection of Persons with
Disabilities Act 2013; Setup 'Accessible Spot Point' in rural
area; Strengthening of warning system Establishment of
'Building Code' and 'Infrastructural Rules and Regulations';
Keeping disabling friendly instruments at every institutional
level; Ensure transport accessibilities; User-friendly shelter
centre; Gear-up marginalized Disabling people; Health Care
Accessibilities; Ensuring the Accessibilities from government
and financial institution level and lastly Strengthening of
Organization of Persons with Disabilities (DPOs).
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Source of Funding: None Conflict of interest: None
