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10 DisplacementandResettlement:Understanding… 249
occurring at the same timeas economic anddemographic changes,which result in
larger,more vulnerable populations living inmore exposed areas (Hugo2011).As
aresult,globallymillionsofpeopleareaffectedeachyear,with12.9millionpeople
displaced by storms in 2016 (IDMC2017).Whether humanmobility related to a
cyclone isbeforeorafter theevent, the lossesanddamagescanbeextensive.
Poorercountriesare typicallymoreexposed tocyclonic stormsdue to their loca-
tions in tropical regionsandmorevulnerable to their impactsdue topoverty, liveli-
hoods dependent on natural resources and low levels of education and healthcare
(Blaikie et al. 2014). Bangladesh is low-lying and deltaicmeaning that each year
millionsofvulnerablepeopleare living inareasexposed tocyclonesandfloods.As
such, according to theWorldRisk Index, in 2016Bangladeshwas the 5thmost at
risk country in theworld (Garschagenet al. 2016).AlthoughBangladeshhas early
warning systems, these donot always grant sufficient time for people to leave in a
mannertominimiselossesanddamages.Moreover,somepeoplemaystaytoprotect
their livelihoods (Ayeb-Karlssonet al. 2016).Therearealsoculturalbarrierswhich
may contribute to non-evacuation. Some people may be fatalistic about cyclones
andconceptualiseevacuationasagainstAllah’swill (Haque1995).Unaccompanied
womenmightnotgoto thecycloneshelter,as itcanbeculturally taboo(Paul2014).
In cyclone shelters, and on the journey to them,women and children are at risk of
disease through insanitaryconditionsandmayevencause themselvesharmthrough
reluctance togo to the toilet inpublic (UnicefUK2017).
AfterrepeateddisplacementsBangladeshismaymoveeitherseasonallyorperma-
nently(UnicefUK2017),makingDhakaoneoffastestgrowingcityintheworldwith
residentssubject tolossesanddamages.Almosthalf thepopulationofDhakalivesin
slumswhereapproximatelya thirdhavenoaccess to sanitation (WorldBank2015)
and are exposed to communicable disease (Banu et al. 2013). Children in Dhaka
presented a significantly higher number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)
thanchildrenwhohadnotbeendisplaced(Mollaetal.2014).Seasonalorpermanent
migration to a city can bring newor increased risks related toworking conditions
(Ayeb-Karlssonet al. 2016) andchildrencanmissoutonschool if theyareobliged
tofindwork (UnicefUK2017).
Rich countries are not immune to losses and damages associatedwithmobility
related to cyclonic storms. The USA is frequently impacted by hurricanes, with
875,000 people displaced byHurricaneMatthew in 2016 (IDMC2017). Bymid-
October, the2017Atlantichurricaneseasonhadproduced15storms,10hurricanes
and5majorhurricanes,whilethemonthofSeptember2017wasthesinglemostactive
month forAtlantic storms on record (TheWeatherChannel 2017). Projections for
theNorthAtlanticshowa45%increaseinthenumberofmajorhurricanes(category
3or above) in theperiod2016–2035 relative to1986-2005andan11%increase in
related rainfall (Knutsonetal.2010).Hurricanes IreneandSandy in2011and2012
respectivelymayprovideevidenceofashiftinthehurricanebelt(IPCC2012),which
could have implications for a population lacking the experience and infrastructure
tocopewithhurricanes (Cutter et al. 2007).
The poorest and ethnicminority communities are typically those which suffer
themost severe losses and damages through hurricane displacement. The natural
Loss and Damage from Climate Change
Concepts, Methods and Policy Options
- Title
- Loss and Damage from Climate Change
- Subtitle
- Concepts, Methods and Policy Options
- Authors
- Reinhard Mechler
- Laurens M. Bouwer
- Thomas Schinko
- Swenja Surminski
- JoAnne Linnerooth-Bayer
- Publisher
- Springer Open
- Date
- 2019
- Language
- English
- License
- CC BY 4.0
- ISBN
- 978-3-319-72026-5
- Size
- 16.0 x 24.0 cm
- Pages
- 580
- Keywords
- Environment, Climate change, Environmental law, Environmental policy, Risk management
- Categories
- International
- Naturwissenschaften Umwelt und Klima