Informal Volunteerism in Disaster Management: Evidence from Southwest Coastal Region of Bangladesh

Natural calamities have a devastating impact on every sphere of human life for Bangladesh's coastal residents. Volunteerism is a common occurrence in this field. Volunteerism is a wonderful profession that benefits people by glorifying activities that are done willingly. This role is very important not just for individuals as well as for communities. The main objective of this study was to explore the role of the informal volunteer in disaster management. The study was descriptive and qualitative, with case studies, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews as methods. The study area of this research was the Kamarkhola Union under Dacope Upazila. The study's key findings suggest two distinct patterns of informal volunteers and they engage in a variety of activities, but this is not definite. Pre-disaster, disaster and post-disaster operations were all carried out by informal volunteers. The majority of the informal volunteers were students, with only a few teachers and small business owners among them. They lack recognition and identity, as a matter of which few people are familiar with them. Additionally, because of a scarcity of informal volunteers, it was unable to obtain all of the information from them. Informal volunteers faced some challenges caused by a lack of formal instruction or guidance. They are occasionally confronted with critical situations that pose several health risks. As a result, it is reasonable to conclude that specific plans and disaster-related education can help them carry out their duties effectively. As a result, policymakers should think about these challenges while developing policies and action plans. This research creates a new window of opportunity for additional research on this topic.

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