Women lead climate fight in Bangladesh slum

DW (English)

With extreme heat episodes becoming more frequent, a team of women is teaching people living in a Barishal slum how to cope with heat-related illnesses.

Transcript

00:00Here in Borishal, in south-central Bangladesh, over 100,000 people live in informal settlements like this one.

00:10These women are making their way through the alleyways of the Haatkola slum, led by Rekha Begum.

00:15She and her fellow women's group warriors are going from home to home,

00:20educating others on how to protect themselves from various heat-related illnesses.

00:25What challenges have you been facing?

00:32I have allergies, itching, restlessness and nausea.

00:36I sweat a lot so I need to wash often and I struggle to eat anything.

00:43It's crucial to maintain cleanliness in this area to prevent the spread of diseases through flies.

00:49Eating contaminated food can lead to diarrhea, worsening your health in the summer heat.

00:55Consume glucose, drink bottled water and ensure children stay hydrated and cool.

01:01In recent years, the country has seen increasingly frequent heat waves.

01:05Higher temperatures are particularly harsh on low-income communities exacerbated by power and water shortages

01:12and a lack of information on how to cope.

01:18In 2018, the Bangladesh Red Crescent and British Red Cross established a women's group in Haatkola, Borishal, to address these challenges.

01:28Women are often hit hardest by extreme weather, so empowering them to lead the response is crucial.

01:35They come together from various areas for regular meetings.

01:41A mother of three, Josna Begum leads the women's squad in her community,

01:46not only raising awareness but also training women from neighbouring areas to follow suit.

01:52I have called you here urgently to discuss the extreme heat.

01:58It's dangerously hot.

02:00Please take care of yourselves and the women and families in your community.

02:05Many have diarrhea and are vomiting.

02:08Very common in this heat.

02:10Avoid eating stale food.

02:12Keep courtyards clean.

02:14Drink safe water, preferably from tube wells.

02:17Avoid tap water.

02:19It can carry germs, especially now.

02:22Stay alert and share this message to keep everyone safe.

02:31Rekha shares her dwelling in the Haatkola slum with her husband and children.

02:36As well as taking part in the heat awareness camp-in, Rekha works as a tailor and sells clothes to small shops.

02:44She is preparing a meal for her family.

02:47They once opposed her working outside the home.

02:50But that has changed.

02:52With the support and connections provided by the women's group, she is now able to earn an income.

02:58I thought, if others can do it, so can I.

03:05So I took the clothes to shops, spoke to people.

03:09The clothes sold, I gained confidence.

03:12Now I even sell far away.

03:15At first, my husband stopped me.

03:18He said, don't work, it's not good.

03:20Then he thought, why not?

03:22You will learn new things and the family benefits.

03:25Finally, he said I could go.

03:27Now he doesn't stop me.

03:29He encourages me.

03:30He even helps deliver the clothes.

03:33Then he doesn't stop me.

03:36Haatkola once faced severe water scarcity, forcing residents to travel far for clean water.

03:43Women's group initiatives have eased the crisis.

03:46But more work remains to improve life here.

03:49Josna believes that collective effort is key to success.

03:53The impact of the women's groups extends beyond the slumps, inspiring others to join their cause.

04:00As the saying goes, we serve society for our own well-being and to better our community.

04:08Seeing improvements in our area brings us satisfaction.

04:12By providing access to clean water, we benefit not only ourselves but also neighbouring families.

04:20Our actions have a ripple effect, improving lives beyond our immediate surroundings.

04:30Borishal is vulnerable to cyclones, floods, heat waves and other natural disasters.

04:37Women like Josna and Rekha are determined to accelerate the women's group's efforts.

04:43While some disasters are unavoidable, raising awareness can mitigate their impact and reduce human suffering.

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