Disasters and Forced Migration: A Case Study on Riverbank Erosion and Its Potential Impacts

on Rural and Urban Bangladesh

Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman*, Md. Hasan Masrur, Riffat Mahmood, Muhammad Abdur Rahaman & Mizanur Rahman Bijoy

Session: “Health and Migration” 8-11 January 2018

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Dhaka.

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2

Background

Riverbank erosion is a widespread natural disaster in rural Bangladesh which results in rapid growth in a forced internal migration of people.

These internally displaced people (IDPs) migrate to the urban slum areas after losing their residents for a better work opportunity and essential services.

However, such situation arises in permanent migration to urban areas and growth in informal urban settlements and creating more challenges for the urban population.

This study focuses on people’s migration pattern in Bangladesh particularly in the context of riverbank erosion and explores the impact of riverbank erosion rural and urban Bangladesh.

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Study Area

Rural Dimension Char Monpura, Char Fasson, and

Char Tajimuddin of Bhola District

Urban Dimension ‘Bhola Slum’ of Dhaka City

Bhola District Dhaka City

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Methodology

Final manuscript & Peer-reviewed publication

GIS & Remote sensing

analysis

• Assessing the erosion and

accretion rate of river bank

• Assessing spatial growth of

urban informal settlements

Quantitative

Household Survey

(Structured close-end

Questionnaire Survey)

Qualitative

FGD, KII

(Focus group discussion &

Key Informant Interview)

In-depth review

and analysis of the

existing documents

related to the study

Primary Information Collection

Training for the enumerators

Disasters and Forced Migration: A Case Study on Riverbank Erosion and Its Potential Impacts on Rural and Urban Bangladesh

Study Area selection

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Erosion & Accretion rate

2006 2010 2016

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Erosion & Accretion in Area

Erosion Area (Sq. Km)

2000-2006 2006-

2010

2010-2016

Char

Monpura 6 3 4

Char Fasson 8 2 3 Char

Tajimuddin 15 3 4

Total 29 8 11

Accretion Area (Sq. Km)

2000-

2006

2006-

2010

2010-2016

Char

Monpura 0 0 0

Char Fasson 2 4 3 Char

Tajimuddin 1 0 1

Total 3 4 4

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Spatial growth of Bhola Slum

83

94

72

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2006 2010 2016

Area (In Acre)

Spatial Growth (Source: M. Mahbubur et al., 2017)

Growth in Area

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People’s Migration Pattern in Bangladesh

In-migration rates per 1000 population from 2002-2016 (Source: BBS, 2016)

Out- migration rates per 1000 population from 1984-2016 (Source: BBS, 2016)

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Impacts of Riverbank Erosion on Rural Area

Riverbank Erosion

Loss of Homestead

Loss of Agricultural

Land

Income Erosion

Forced Migration

Low Expenditure in

Food Consumption

Marginal Expenditure in

Education

Livelihood Status Becomes more

Vulnerable

Poor Expenditure

in Health Care

Loss of Production

Conceptual Framework of the Impact

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Impacts of Riverbank Erosion on Urban Area

Riverbank Erosion

Forced Displacement

Growth of urban population

Lack of access to

basic services

Social Insecurity

Growth of urban informal settlements

Encroachment of water

bodies & agriculture

land

Pollution from solid

& liquid wastes

Contamination of water sources

Conceptual Framework of the Impact

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Impacts of Riverbank Erosion on Urban Area (Contd.)

5

0 2

0

6

0

5

23

0

4

0

22

0

7

2

0

24

0 2

0

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INCOME EDUCATION OCCUPATION HEALTH AND SANITATION

Present Socio-economic Condition of the IDPs (In Percentage)

Proposed Local Solution

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Studied Area Problem Solution

Rural (Bhola

District)

Char Monpura Riverbank Erosion • Short term and long term planning

Char Fasson Riverbank Erosion • Improving rural livelihood

Char

Tajimuddin

Riverbank Erosion • Ensuring sustainable rural

development

Urban (Dhaka

City)

Bhola Slum Rapid Population

Growth

• Create alternative livelihood options

at origin

Growth of Urban

Informal

Settlement

• Introduction of an improved

housing policy framework

• Introduction of resettlement policy

and approach for urban slum areas

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How the solution would address the problem?

Problems

Implementation

of the proposed Solutions

Mitigation of the

Problems

• Riverbank erosion • Rapid growth in

urban population • Growth in urban

informal settlements

• Short term & long term planning

• Improving rural livelihood

• Ensuring sustainable rural development

• Resettlement policy for slum dwellers

• Improved housing policy framework

How the Implementing Agency Reach Out the

Beneficiaries

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Proposed Solutions Implementing Agencies Beneficiaries

Short term & long-term

planning

Improving rural livelihood

Ensuring sustainable

rural development

Policymakers

Government and Non-

Government Agencies

Relevant Ministries

Relevant Stakeholders

Rural and Urban

People

Final Words

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This slide is made possible by the support of American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the sole responsibility of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States government.

Riverbank erosion is resulting in significant negative impacts both in urban and rural Bangladesh which needs to be addressed properly.