Dhaka: Climate change-induced displacement and migration are increasing in the South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, says a news study. 

In 2016, the study reveals, people in South Asia are experiencing devastations due to extreme weather events and they are on the move like never before. 

In May 2016, Cyclone Roanu ripped through Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh causing widespread damage and causing an estimated loss of US$ 1.7 billion.

The study report titled, ‘Climate Change Knows No Border’, carried out by ActionAid, Climate Action Network South Asia and Bread for the World was released globally on Thursday, said an ActionAid media release.

During 2010-11, Asia and the Pacific region saw more than 42 million people displaced by extreme weather events. By 2050, 15 million people in Bangladesh alone could be displaced by climate change, according to the report.

While the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) anticipates climate change impacts will be felt even more severely in future years, political disputes and cross-border fighting often characterise the reaction to migration across the region more than active solutions and problem-solving. 

Country director of ActionAid Bangladesh Farah Kabir said displacement and forced migration are a real and ever-concerning problem for Bangladesh. 

“And as emissions continue upwards, its women and girls living on the frontline of climate related disasters lose out. There’s an urgent need for women and girls to have access to reliable information on the risks around migration and how women can access support to protect themselves,” she added.

In April 2016, temperatures reached a record-breaking 51 degrees in Rajasthan, India. And across India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, 2015-16 brought with it extended drought and crop failure, affecting 330 million people in India alone and many more across the region.

The study shows that migration is taking place as a result of crop failure, rising sea levels and flooding all caused by climate change. In some cases, this is exacerbated by trans-boundary water management issues. Sudden events such as cyclones and flooding can lead to temporary displacement. 

However, the study mentions, if these events happen repeatedly, people lose their savings and assets, and may eventually be forced to move to cities or abroad to find work.

It observes that policies are currently failing to understand the scale and impact of migration on women, and are failing to address emerging issues. Promotion of women’s empowerment, as well as women-led planning and disaster response, must be part of the solution.

Climate Action Network South Asia director Sanjay Vashist said: “The governments of South Asia countries must recognise that climate change knows no borders. Governments have a responsibility to use our shared mountains, rivers, history and cultures to seek common solutions to the droughts, sea-level rise and water shortages that the region is increasingly experiencing.”