What Influence Evacuation Decisions at Cyclone Shelters? Empirical Evidence from Bangladesh

Abstract

Considering Bangladesh as one of the most prone to cyclones, the government of Bangladesh and international cooperation agencies are trying to mitigate the damages and losses of cyclones through the construction of cyclone shelters in the coastal belt of the country. This research aims to find out the influence of the socio-spatial distribution of refuge shelters on evacuation decisions. An empirical study was conducted in Charmadras Union of the Charfasson Upazila of Bhola district in Bangladesh. Employed a structured survey questionnaire, a total of 115 individual households were interviewed along with some key informants interviews. The spatial distribution of the cyclone shelters is analyzed using the satellite image. Results show that the spatial distribution of cyclone shelter doesn’t affect the evacuation decisions, rather than a set of social factors influence on the people’s evacuation decisions. Among them, the decision making process of cyclone shelter and it’s location selection, better facilities in the shelter, in particular, the facilities for women, children and elderly people. Besides, access to information and individual household level risk perception and refugee preferences influence the evacuation decisions. Since cyclone shelter is one of the major programs of disaster risk reduction measures in Bangladesh, the study finding is helpful for future policy planning in the face of climate change.