Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies of Low-income People in Dacope Upazila of Bangladesh

Disaster negatively affects low-income people because the ability of people to reduce disaster risk is largely determined by their income. Low-income people are more vulnerable to disasters and face numerous barriers to reduce their disaster risk. The purpose of this study was to know the disaster risk reduction strategies of low-income people in Dacope Upazila of Bangladesh as Dacope is a disaster-prone area of the country. The study also focused on identifying their disaster risk and vulnerabilities as well as, to know their disaster risk reduction strategies at various stages of a disaster. And lastly, we were able to know the outcomes of implementing all these strategies from them. The study was descriptive and based on a qualitative research design. Data were collected through purposive sampling by using case studies, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs). The study had used a checklist for data collection and three different checklists were prepared for case studies, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Data were collected from low-income people such as day laborers, farmers, and fishermen by case studies and focus group discussions. Also, for the key informant interviews, the respondents were the persons who knew the low-income people’s disaster risk reduction strategy. The major findings of this study indicated that low-income people had their disaster risk reduction strategies, but they did not succeed after implementing these strategies. They were vulnerable to disaster in every part of their lives, but especially in housing and occupation. They lost home, farmland, and everything else by the disaster. They had suffered a lot of financial losses, poor housing and road conditions, an unstable embankment, the salinity of water, a lack of shelters and medical facilities, and a shortage of relief. All these factors make it very difficult for low-income people to reduce their disaster risk. To reduce their disaster risk by adopting strategies, it is necessary to take various steps of the government and non-government organizations to improve their condition. Further studies can be developed by other researchers from this study for proper examination of disaster risk reduction strategies of this group of people and run the various projects to solve their problem to the reduction of disaster risk.

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