Climate migrants should be brought under social safety net: Speakers

The government should bring the girls and women who fall victim to the impact of climate change under the social safety net to ensure their minimum security, speakers said at a discussion in Chattogram on Thursday.

They said every year numerous people are being displaced across the country due to climate change. After losing home and everything, many of them are forced to live on the street.

Observing that it is also necessary to identify climate migrants on a priority basis, speakers at the discussion also emphasised coordination among different departments while undertaking climate change mitigation projects.

ActionAid, Songshoptaque and Climate Action Network South Asia jointly organised the discussion entitled "Climate induced-displacement: Chattogram Perspective" at Chattogram Press Club.

"Several hundred people come to Chattogram from adjacent districts every year after losing home. But they find no shelter in the city either, which is a direct violation of their human rights," said Abdur Rahman Rana, director, Climate Change Adaptation, Migration Experiment and Training Park, while presenting his keynote.

Rana said the city should have a plan for these people displaced due to the impact of climate change. If the government brings them under the social safety net, it would help them meet their basic demands.

"At the same time, the government should ensure their land rights; by rehabilitating them on khas lands or buying lands for them," he added.

Several climate migrants also shared their experience at the programme.

Mizanur Rahman, additional divisional commissioner of Chattogram, attended the discussion as the chief guest while Mohammad Asadur Rahman, deputy director of meteorological geophysical centre in Chattogram, Abida Azad, former ward councilor, and Azizul Islam, deputy director of fire service and civil defense, were present as special guests.

Liton Chowdhury, chief executive of Songshoptaque, delivered the welcome speech.