Climate Migration- Bangladesh on the move

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This video documentary explores climate migration in Bangladesh. Footage was filmed on site in Bhola, Chittagong and Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Forced migration is a fact of life for countless Bangladeshis. The mix of factors contributing to migration is difficult to dissect but there appears to be far more “push” than “pull”: movement is typically forced by necessity rather than impelled by opportunity.

Climate change is difficult to isolate as “the” cause of movement but impossible to dismiss as contributing agent. Lack of basic education is a key factor limiting options for daily wage labourers and their respective families, constraining many to struggle for subsistence survival in subhuman conditions in urban slums where vulnerabilities can be more pronounced than problems in rural context communities which triggered the migration in the first place.

As one of three international PhD case studies that deal with climate change related migration, Bangladesh field research sought to assess the contributing role that climate change related problems and rapid onset disasters may have on human movement in the environmental context of densely settled megadeltaic regions.

Conducting grassroots fieldwork across the whole spectrum of human migration or displacement (incorporating both communities of origin and destination), there was a special emphasis on hearing from people directly affected by migration over and above people primarily knowledgeable about them.

In keeping with the intended research questions the case study did not seek to argue for or against the causality nexus between climate change and migration. Rather it conceptualised both present and future forced human movement, including that which may be related to climate change, as causing the least disruption and suffering, if dealt with before its manifestation and possible deterioration into a humanitarian crisis requiring ad hoc emergency intervention.

Forward-planning and preparedness were identified as key success factors for more benign (“less bad”) migration outcomes.

Main findings:
Many migrants would prefer to return to their communities of origin if they had a realistic prospect to find work. This apparent preference makes adaptation and education measures in their communities of origin an important priority. Poverty reduction, livelihood security, education, and better government planning are recommended as essential policy priorities for preparedness informed and more equitable migration management outcomes.

PhD thesis:
The Bangladesh case study can be accessed in Chapter 5 (pp. 167-220) of my thesis:
http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/52944

Geo-tagging:
Location (blue dot) of the eroded Dorichandpur Mustafijur Rahman Registered Primary School in Hazikandi, Post Office Hatshoshigonj, Chandpur Union, Tajumuddin Upazila (tagged following interviews):
http://goo.gl/maps/1huUJ

Field research locations:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mi...

Planet Prepare - World Vision Disaster Report (2008):
http://www.wvi.org/asia-pacific/publi...

For more information follow this link:
http://www.ies.unsw.edu.au/our-people/dr-johannes-luetz



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