Bangladesh: Protect People Most At Risk During Monsoon Season

(New York) – Unprecedented flooding during the monsoon season in northern Bangladesh in June 2022 caused loss of lives and livelihoods, extreme hardship, threatening the human rights of at-risk populations, Human Rights Watch said today. As the monsoon season approaches, Bangladeshi authorities should ensure that people with disabilities and older people living in flood-prone regions are protected through improved access to services and infrastructure.
 
Severe flash floods in northeastern Bangladesh between June 15 and June 28, 2022 killed at least 141 people, according to government data, and left millions in desperate need of shelter and aid, including people with disabilities and older people, who often face disproportionate difficulties in surviving extreme weather events due to inaccessible services, neglect, and lack of targeted action. Extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent and intense because of climate change.