Flood shelters in Bangladesh: some issues from the user's perspective

Abstract

Flood is an integral part of Bangladesh and so is the suffering of the people living in flood-prone areas. Unlike cyclone shelters, very few designated flood shelters exist in Bangladesh; this is because of the difference in the nature of these two phenomena. Flood shelters in three locations along three major rivers were visited, and communities were consulted to address some selected issues regarding the shelters. Three major types of flood shelters were identified for the comparison, which are community shelter, school-cum-shelter, and individual homestead. The range of issues included accessibility to shelters, land availability, protection of lives and livelihoods, basic facilities and services, safety and security of women and children, willingness and priority of potential users, and maintenance and cost-effectiveness. The primary objective of this chapter was to investigate the benefits and shortcomings of the types of flood shelters that are in use and check if any particular type of shelter could be recommended as solution. The findings show that each of the three aforementioned types of flood shelters has their pros and cons, and considering the need and aspiration of communities, one particular type of flood shelter might not be suitable across different geographical and social contexts.