Socioeconomic Vulnerabilities of Disaster affected Older Persons in Coastal Areas of Bangladesh

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Rabiul Islam

University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

: J Aging Geriatr Med

Abstract

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Bangladesh is a disaster prone area in the world. Every year, especially, the coastal areas are affected in different types of disaster such as flood, cyclone, tidal surge, river erosion, drought etc. Women, children, disabled and older persons are the most victims and vulnerable groups in disaster. There are 19 districts in coastal areas of Bangladesh where about 5 million elderly people live. More than 60% of them live in poverty. Elderly people in coastal areas suffer from some crucial human problems such as poor financial support, senile diseases and absence of proper health and medical care facilities, exclusion and negligence, deprivation and socio-economic insecurity. The study used mix method approach where social survey and in-depth case study method were applied. This study was conducted on two upazilas in southern part of Bangladesh. The study aimed to look at the socio-economic conditions of disaster affected older persons in coastal areas of Bangladesh; and to identify the vulnerabilities based on some socioeconomic and psychological indicators. The key concerns of disaster vulnerabilities were the experience of poverty, loss of family members and relatives, lands, houses, livestock, crops, floating and displacement, changes of traditional professions and psychological trauma. Through the literature review, it is found that this issue has not been addressed adequately in Bangladesh. No in-depth study was conducted on the issue of the vulnerability of disaster affected older persons in Bangladesh. We feel that this study will disclose some significant aspects which would be useful to the academics, policy makers and development practitioners.

Biography

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Md. Rabiul Islam has completed his PhD on Gerontology. He is the founder member to introduce the Gerontology and Geriatric Welfare Program Master’s Program in the University of Dhaka. He has received fellowship training on Research Methodology and Writing and Publishing in the U.S from the University of California, Berkely, USA. He is serving as a Professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka. He has published 35 research articles on different social and development issues of Bangladesh in National and International Research Journals. He published a research book from German. He has visited 20 countries to attend and participate in international conferences, seminars and workshops as a paper presenter, key note speaker and session chair. He has more than eighteen years experience of research work. His areas of interests are ageing/gerontology, poverty and social exclusion, labor rights, climate change and disaster and community development.