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With an existing flooding problem, Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. During the great floods of 2004, 80 percent of the country’s crops were destroyed or damaged, and 30 million people were made homeless. In a country with low economic development that is so densely populated, the effects of even minor climate changes could be catastrophic.

Currently, almost one-fifth of the population lives just one meter above sea level. A rise in sea levels could affect all aspects of life as the intrusion of salt water would prevent farmers from growing crops and would also restrict the availability of water for domestic use. Rising sea levels also greatly increase the risk of waterborne diseases.

However, it is not only the sea that threatens Bangladesh. Melting glaciers in the Himalayas caused by warmer temperatures would force water down the mountain side, causing rivers to burst their banks and land to flood.

Preparing for Disaster

Working with local communities in the town of Derai, Usha helps people prepare for disasters so that when they do occur, their impact is minimal. Before she joined Islamic Relief as a volunteer on the Disaster Preparedness team, her family was one of the many who benefited from training in how to prepare for disasters.

“I enjoy these activities. All of them are important for me,” Usha said. “The work is not as difficult as I thought. The initiative for communal work is all that is needed from the community.”

Usha is enthusiastic about her work and always delivers her message with a smile. “I motivate the community to raise the ground near their homes like Islamic Relief has been doing,” she said. In an area extremely vulnerable to flooding, the impact of this simple yet effective measure cannot be overstated.

Usha is one of 1,200 volunteers working with Islamic Relief to help communities prepare for flooding. She accomplishes this task by engaging the community at meetings where people are educated before a disaster occurs. She assists in discussing the causes and types of disasters that may occur, the importance of disaster preparedness and helpful things people can do to be ready both during and after the floods, with an emphasis on health and hygiene issues.