Ariful Islam & Misu Akter
The Chittagong Hill Tracts is about one-tenth of the area of Bangladesh. It is made up of three districts namely Khagrachhari, Rangamati, and Bandarban. A total of about 1 million women are living in these three hill areas. Although people of all communities live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the number of aborigines (Marma, Tripura, Chakma, Garo, Sawtelle, Mug, Orao, Munda, Paharia, Khashia, etc.) are more than 52% of the total population.
Most of them have a culture of matriarchal society, so women must carry all the responsibilities of the family. Due to this, these women are directly and indirectly involved in various types of social activities including economic aspects. Three-quarters of the women in the Aborigine community take up agricultural work and animal keeping as their occupations. Most of the indigenous women who usually live in hilly areas are illiterate, which is why they participate in crop production very efficiently. These indigenous women are not only involved in agricultural work but also in animal observance in the fields and hills. They also do all the household work of their family. Since women complete their daily tasks in direct harmony with nature, and they are directly dependent on natural resources for their work. They are one of the main victims of climate change.
“There is only one difference between me and the cow- the cow stays in the forest all day, wandering in the field to fill her stomach and I work all day in the forest, working in the field to feed the family member’s stomach. I spend six months a year as a farmer in the field and six months as a herdsman in the forest. This is my life, I was born a woman, I must fight and live”- Rimchai Marma, a hill tracks woman was saying this to us.
It is seen that all the women groups in the hilly areas, i.e., the women of both the aborigines and Bengali communities, collect their fuel, grow crops, irrigate, raise and feed the animals, collect water, and meet various daily needs depending on the natural resources. In the hilly areas, the supply of water, cooking gas, ready-to-eat food, and other necessities of life, such as in cities, is almost unavailable. But at present climate change is hampering their daily life activities. The environment of the hilly regions is being exploited on a mass scale in the name of modernized civilization. Various types of natural and man-made disasters are gradually appearing in hill tract areas. In addition, these women have to deal with various natural disasters caused by climate change. The women of the hilly areas prefer the small hilly rivers as their source of drinking water. Due to climate change the rivers are waterless most of the time in the year and during the rainy days the rivers contain dirty water. These waters can’t be used for drinking purposes and neither for WASH.
Women in these areas often have limited access to resources like education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Climate change can exacerbate these challenges, making it even harder for them to adapt and recover from its impacts. It can affect water availability and agricultural productivity in hill tracts, which can impact women’s ability to provide food and water for their families. Women are often responsible for household food security, and disruptions in these areas can disproportionately affect their well-being.
Changes in climate can be a cause of spreading diseases, as well as affect water quality in the hilly areas. This can lead to huge loss of livelihoods, such as farming and other agricultural activities. In that case, women must take on extra tasks to support their families. That might be leading to an extended workload and create negative impacts on their physical and mental health.
Climate change can have effects, on these regions impacting aspects of the environment and the people who reside there particularly women. Let’s talk about some health consequences of climate change on hill tract women.
As temperatures rise heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense. Hill tract communities, those involved in tasks like farming and gathering may face heightened heat stress. Women, who often have roles in these activities might bear a burden due, to their traditional responsibilities and clothing norms that could restrict their ability to adapt to higher temperatures. One of the effects is changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, which can influence the distribution of disease carrying vectors like mosquitoes and ticks. As a result, diseases such as malaria, dengue and Lyme disease may spread, posing health risks to women who may have limited access to healthcare and information on preventing these diseases.
Climate change-related events such as landslides, floods, and droughts can lead to displacement and migration. Displaced women often face challenges in accessing healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities, putting their health and well-being at risk. This can also lead to stress, anxiety, and mental health challenges among women. Climate change-induced stresses and health challenges can indirectly affect women’s reproductive health, including access to maternal care and family planning services.
Now is the time to act on climate change and build adaptive capacity. A variety of activities must be undertaken so that vulnerable people can protect themselves from the adverse effects of climate change and adapt to climate change. In addition, steps must be taken on an urgent basis to maintain the natural balance. To empower women in tackling climate change, they must improve their education. Most of women have no idea about climate change because they are deprived of education. As a result, no decision can be made on what steps should be taken to prevent disasters caused by climate change and in pre-and post-disaster times. There is no alternative to preserving the natural balance to live a healthy and sustainable life in the coming days. Everyone should come together to prevent the adverse effects of climate change.
Authors:
Ariful Islam – climate activist and development professional.
Misu Akter – climate activist and student from Khagrachari.
envreview.com 