Khan Md Ayatullah
Development Studies Discipline, Khulna University, 9208, Bangladesh.
Heliyon. 2022 May 2;8(5):e09355. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09355. eCollection 2022 May.
Bangladesh, being the world's most climate-vulnerable country, is affected by plenty of climate-related hazards every year, mostly along its south-western coast. As a consequence, many people relocated from these regions' worst-affected neighborhoods to Khulna city, and began to live as slum dwellers. They faced a variety of issues in these informal settlements, particularly regarding water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities and livelihood options, but no research has been conducted in Bangladesh. With an emphasis on WASH services and livelihood prospects, this study therefore aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges/hardships and needs of climate migrants living in urban slums in both general and COVID-19 contexts. Qualitative methods were applied to collect data from the climate migrants of slums in five wards (3, 12, 17, 21, and 30) of the Khulna City Corporation. Nine focus group discussions and four key informant interviews were conducted to collect the data from primary (community people) and secondary (local government and non-government and community-based organizations officials) stakeholders. The thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that climate migrants experienced significant water scarcity, insufficient drainage systems, a lack of toilets, tube wells, and bathing facilities, inadequate hygiene management, a lack of core skills required for urban jobs, low payment, and an income shortage. Similarly, sustainable drinking water sources, sanitary toilets with WASH blocks, personal hygiene materials and awareness building, skill development for diverse livelihood opportunities, and income-generating capacity development were their top priorities. Overall, the findings of this study provided a holistic overview of the challenges/hardships and needs of climate migrants in urban slums regarding WASH services and livelihood opportunities. The authorities should intervene and develop policy initiatives to alleviate the hardships and meet the needs of climate migrants.
孟加拉国是世界上气候最脆弱的国家，每年都受到大量与气候相关的灾害影响，主要集中在其西南沿海地区。因此，许多人从这些地区受灾最严重的社区搬迁到库尔纳市，开始以贫民窟居民的身份生活。他们在这些非正式住区面临着各种各样的问题，特别是在水、环境卫生和个人卫生（WASH）设施以及生计选择方面，但孟加拉国尚未开展相关研究。因此，本研究重点关注WASH服务和生计前景，旨在全面了解在一般情况和新冠疫情背景下，城市贫民窟中气候移民所面临的挑战/困难和需求。本研究采用定性方法，从库尔纳市市政当局五个选区（第3、12、17、21和30选区）的贫民窟气候移民中收集数据。通过九次焦点小组讨论和四次关键信息访谈，从主要利益相关者（社区居民）和次要利益相关者（地方政府、非政府组织和社区组织官员）收集数据。采用主题分析法对数据进行分析。研究结果显示，气候移民面临严重的水资源短缺、排水系统不足、缺乏厕所、管井和洗浴设施、卫生管理不善、缺乏城市工作所需的核心技能、低薪和收入短缺等问题。同样，可持续饮用水源、配备WASH设施的卫生厕所、个人卫生用品和意识培养、多样化生计机会的技能发展以及创收能力发展是他们的首要任务。总体而言，本研究结果全面概述了城市贫民窟中气候移民在WASH服务和生计机会方面所面临的挑战/困难和需求。当局应进行干预并制定政策举措，以缓解这些困难并满足气候移民的需求。
