Disability Inclusion in Climate Resilient Infrastructure: A Cross-Sectional Study in Four Coastal Sub-Districts of Bangladesh

Introduction

Bangladesh is a climate-vulnerable country, and the most vulnerable population is the person with disabilities (PWD) (Nishat et al., 2022). According to Bangladesh’s “Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act” of 2013, 2.80% of the population is disabled, with genderstratified prevalence of 2.322% for women and 3.28% for men. In terms of geography, the prevalence is 2.45% in urban areas and 2.89% in rural areas. In addition, the prevalence rates are broken down by age groups. For example, the rates for children ages 0 to 4 are 0.83%, adults ages 18 to 49 are 2.24%, and those 65 and older have a significantly higher incidence of 9.83%. The district of Khulna, in particular, has the highest prevalence rate of 3.62% (BBS, 2022). Many coastal residents are impoverished, and the population is vulnerable to both natural and man-made disasters (Ahmad, 2019). A significant correlation was found between poverty and the impact of natural disasters on the disabled (Mahmud et al., 2014). Individuals with disabilities are disproportionately affected by inaccessible evacuation, response, and recovery efforts in disaster, emergency, and conflict situations (King et al., 2019). Bangladesh is susceptible to both climate change and natural disasters. The country is ranked seventh globally in terms of extreme risk, according to the global Climate Risk Index of 2021 (Eckstein et al., 2020). According to the 2021 Climate Risk Index, which was developed based on data from 2000 to 2019, Bangladesh suffered substantial damages that were related to climate change. The country suffered 11,450 fatalities and $3.72 billion in substantial financial losses during the same period. A total of 185 extreme weather events that were directly linked to climate change occurred in Bangladesh during this time (Al Amin, 2021; Eckstein et al., 2020). Due to insufficient planning and preparation, as well as inaccessible infrastructure, services, and transportation systems, people with disabilities are disproportionately vulnerable to being ignored or marginalized in disaster situations (Mahmud et al., 2014). Problems include disproportionate access to resources, inability to adapt to the built environment, and poor living conditions (King et al., 2019). The inadequacy of communication infrastructure in remote areas makes it more difficult for people with disabilities to mobilise communities during emergencies (Mahmud et al., 2014). Natural disasters (flood/cyclone/lightning) account for 0.46% of the disabled population in Bangladesh as a whole, and 0.67% in the Khulna division (BBS, 2022). Frequently, the extent to which individuals, communities, and countries are vulnerable or resilient is determined by the interactions between various structure-related problems (King et al., 2019). It is not always possible to find gender-friendly shelters because they frequently do not have separate lavatories for men and women (Mahmud et al., 2014). The CEGIS conducted a Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) survey across 10 districts, covering 1,705 cyclone shelters and killas. The survey results highlight serious deficiencies in vital infrastructure. Just 25% of the shelters that were surveyed have water supply infrastructure located in high-risk areas, and only 14% have facilities for storing perishable goods. Moreover, only 26% of these shelters have spaces exclusively reserved for women, and only 33% have separate restrooms that meet the needs of women. The surveyed shelters notably lack provisions for providing physical accessibility for individuals with disabilities (Mahmud et al., 2014). A disaster may exacerbate the conditions of PWD, and they may lose interpersonal support and mobility aides (King et al., 2019). The majority of shelters are located beyond the prescribed reachable territory (Mahmud et al., 2014). Individuals with disabilities often experience disproportionately higher rates of morbidity and mortality during emergencies, making them among the most vulnerable to the lack of emergency support infrastructure (World Bank, 2017).