Assessing climate vulnerability and resilience among urban female adolescents: a study in Dhaka’s Korail slum

Abstract

Access to safe and clean water is a critical challenge in the saline-affected coastal areas of Bangladesh, particularly during emergencies such as natural disasters. Rising sea levels, storm surges, and cyclones frequently cause salinity intrusion, contaminating freshwater supplies and exacerbating water scarcity, thereby posing a threat to public health. Conventional water delivery systems are often disrupted, leading to an increase in the incidence of waterborne diseases among local communities. Without prompt intervention, communities may resort to using contaminated water sources, resulting in health issues and socioeconomic stress. In this regard, this study aims to assess the coverage and effectiveness of existing clean water interventions in the study area during emergencies, evaluate people's knowledge, attitudes, practices, affordability, and choices regarding these options, and identify the gap between policy and practice regarding safe water options in saline-prone coastal areas. To conduct this research, a cross-sectional study was designed using a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods. In this regard, both primary data collected through questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary data, sourced from relevant literature, journal articles, and government reports, are used here. Stratified random sampling for quantitative approach and purposive sampling for qualitative approach are employed to conduct the research. The study finds that access to safe water during emergencies is significantly hindered due to the limited efficacy of essential water technologies, including rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS), Pond Sand Filters (PSFs), and desalination plants, which often malfunction during disasters caused by salinity intrusion, flooding, infrastructure damage, and power outages. More than ninety-nine percent of respondents indicated a scarcity of potable water during emergencies, with women and children disproportionately burdened by the necessity of retrieving water from extensive distances. Notwithstanding the presence of community initiatives like rainwater harvesting and desalination plant, these efforts are hindered by insufficient knowledge, poor maintenance, and limited institutional support. Despite the prevalence of waterborne infections, numerous individuals refrain from pursuing clean water. Although non-governmental organizations (NGOs) significantly contribute to the establishment of water infrastructure, over fifty percent of these systems become nonfunctional during disasters. A comprehensive strategy should be formulated that incorporates implementing hybrid and climate-resilient water infrastructures, safeguarding freshwater sources, investing in mobile desalination units, enhancing community training and disaster committees, and undertaking initiatives to improve infrastructure and multi-stakeholder coordination to ensure sustainable and equitable access to safe water during emergencies.