Raising awareness of communities and decentralizing the administration is required for preparedness and response to climate change related disasters and displacement. This requires better coordination of different ministries and government-non government organizations.

This was stated by the participants of the day long Policy Dialogue on Climate Change, Environment and Migration in Bangladesh held on 23 May 2010, at the BRAC Centre Inn, Dhaka organized by International Organization for Migration (IOM) and BRAC Development Institute.

In the backdrop of the first anniversary of cyclone Aila, the national and international experts, representatives of government, NGOs and international organizations present at the Policy Dialogue also stressed on the need for localized and national survey and studies on displaced population due to natural disasters. They said that there is also a need for coordination of urban planning and climate change related policies.

The Honourable State Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Ministry of Environment and Forest, said in his welcome address as the Chief Guest, ‘The government has already allocated required resources to address climate change. We also have enough food grains to support communities affected by natural disasters. But ensuring shelter for the displaced population still remains a challenge’. He urged the participants to come up with suggestions in addressing challenges like this. He also stressed on the need for establishing an international legal regime to address climate change induced cross border migration.

The Chairperson of All Party Parliamentary Committee Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP who was a Special Guest said that their committee is working relentlessly towards developing the strategy for addressing climate change issues irrespective of political parties the members belong to. He said that although there were some delays in the relief and rehabilitation work in Aila affected areas, we were able to address the immediate needs.

The Deputy Country Representative of UK aid agency DFID Ms. Diana Dalton said, this issue has a special priority for the UK government. She said, ‘we know that many people have to leave their homes because of climate change and natural disasters. But to find ways to address their problems, more research is required’.

IOM Regional Representative Ms. Rabab Fatima in her opening remarks said, based on the experience of managing international migration; Bangladesh can address the challenges of internal displacement and possible future cross border migration. She also said, ‘Far from being passive in the face of these challenges, Bangladesh is in a position to respond proactively to minimise the risks and maximise the benefits of environmentally induced migration’.  She said, as IOM’s recent experience in Aila affected areas have shown, while disaster risk reduction and post-disaster response have improved significantly over recent decades, there is still considerable room for improvement. 

The research findings of a 3 month study in cyclone Aila affected areas and a related desk research titled Assessing the Evidence: Environment, Climate Change and Migration in Bangladesh were shared by the researcher Matthew Walsham. As ‘Assessing the Evidence’ demonstrates, cyclones are just one of the many environmental threats to which the country is already exposed.  These include not only sudden-onset or extreme events such as cyclones and floods, but also slow-onset processes of environmental change and degradation such as changing rainfall patterns and saline intrusion.  All of these events and processes have complex but tangible effects on patterns of migration and, over the long-term, climate change will exacerbate the existing situation, further impacting on migration from environmentally vulnerable regions. 

On the occasion of the Policy Dialogue, a day long Photo Exhibition on Environment and Migration, in collaboration with photographer Abir Abdullah of the European Photo and Press Agency (EPA) was also organised. A short video documentary on the impact of cyclone Ayla was also launched.

As the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration, IOM globally addresses linkages between migration and environment, while also supporting human settlement and population movement due to climate change and natural disasters. In Bangladesh, IOM supported 24,000 families in two cyclone Aila affected Upazilas with non food items in 2009, followed by helping people to recover the shocks, regular situation monitoring and launching a website (http://cccm.iom.org.bd/).

For more information please contact Anita Wadud at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Noushin Safinaz at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Tel. +880.2.988.9765