In August 2026, PRAAN and KHANI Bangladesh conducted the study โDisplaced, Deniedโ among climate-displaced families living in the informal settlements of Satkhira. On the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, we shared its findings at a multi-stakeholder dialogue in Satkhira, co-organised with SoDESH. Displaced families sat together with government officials, journalists and civil society.
The study shows how these families are being denied access to food and the other essential services they need for a dignified life. Among 358 families across 35 settlements of Satkhira Municipality:
74.9% are severely food insecure In 52.2%, someone went a whole day without eating 96.9% depend on saline or iron-contaminated water Only 7.5% are covered by government safety net programmes 92.7% don’t know where to lodge a complaintThe displaced community endorsed the report. Fotema, Sonia, Salma, Rizia, Tonni and Parul spoke for their communities. They described daily food crisis, inadequate income, children working in garages, growing debt and the constant fear of eviction.
โWe don’t just want help to survive today. We want a chance to give our children a better future so that they can be free from hunger and povertyโ โ Parul Parvin
Government officials listened and suggested practical remedies. The key outcome of the dialogue was their commitment to support these families:
The UNO, Satkhira Sadar will bring left-out slum dwellers under old-age and widow allowances once a list is sent. Landless families from outside the municipal area can apply for up to 2 acres of khas land. The Department of Public Health Engineering will arrange shared taps and toilets if a civic organisation takes responsibility. The municipality will take part in resource mapping of the slums.Five years after the National Strategy on Disaster and Climate Induced Internal Displacement 2021 was adopted, its promises still need to reach these families. The community forum will keep following up on every commitment.
๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ‘๐ฟ๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐พ๐๐ฟ, ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ’ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ช๐๐ฎ ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ.
