Understanding Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies in Schools of Developing Urban Settlement: Study on Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Abstract

The study investigates the existing scenario of disaster risk reduction (DRR) principles and practices in the schools of developing urban settlement. Bangladesh, being vulnerable due to disaster, has severe condition in some coastal areas due to climate change. People migrate to the capital city, Dhaka for better opportunity. In the last few years, DRR agenda is included in education programs to decrease the number of casualties and distressed people and reduce disaster losses. Increasing susceptibility begets higher risk; hence the study has been conducted focusing on urban disasters, especially Earthquake and Fire hazard. This study follows comprehensive global school safety framework (GADRRRES, 2017) to find out the school safety plan of schools in Dhaka city. It apprehended the viewpoints of children, teachers and local people about the situation of DRR education, plan and practices in schools by conducting FGD, Questionnaire survey. It has been observed although all respondents understand the importance of DRR, they lack interest of implementing it. Some schools run by the Government are following Drill, their condition are better than private schools considering DRR practices. Several strategic recommendations have been made at the end of the study to improve DRR preparedness in schools of Dhaka.