Bangladesh ranks among the top countries in the world in terms of deaths and home displacements due to natural disasters. Between 1970 and 2005, half a million people died from natural disasters, primarily cyclones, floods, riverbank erosion and droughts. While the main responses to such devastation have been to the physical well-being of citizens and to rebuild infrastructure, another key issue is addressing the mental health concerns of those impacted.
In August 2024, more than 500,000 were forced from their homes and 71 were killed by devastating floods. The rivers and overall water levels in cities like Feni threatened to cover the rooftops of many buildings as the water levels reached up to 30 feet in some places. Citizens directed traffic to allow emergency vehicles to arrive faster. Acts of kindness included giving out hot meals and helping evacuate stranded individuals by boat.
Besides being impacted by the flood, people in such an altered environment are at greater risk of experiencing different forms of violence. To help mitigate this problem, the government provided women experiencing gender-based violence with safe shelters. Many of these women also received psychological first aid to help manage their trauma.
Psychological first aid is not a formalized therapy session. It provides a safe space for affected individuals to process trauma and helps connect people with additional disaster relief resources. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) provided medical support for more than 83,000 individuals. Thousands also received psychological aid in the same place where medical support was provided.
People living in poverty can have their situations exacerbated by various circumstances, with extreme floods being one of the worst. About three-quarters of impoverished households see their economic situations worsen after a flood. Bangladesh lost over a million metric tons of food due to the 2024 floods, primarily rice and vegetables. This caused food prices to rise and led to increased inflation. Sixty-two percent of households regularly had scarce meals as a result.
