Over 1.25 million people would benefit from the $500 million credit that the World Bank has approved for Bangladesh to help it better prepare for inland flooding disasters in 14 flood-prone regions.
The Resilient Infrastructure for Adaptation and Vulnerability Reduction (RIVER) project will build over 500 multipurpose flood shelters, access roads, and climate-resilient community infrastructure to help Bangladesh lessen its vulnerability to riverine and flash floods.
The flood shelters will function as elementary schools at regular times and be furnished with solar energy systems, water, sanitization, and hygiene facilities that are geared toward serving the needs of women and other vulnerable groups.
According to a news release, the initiative will also improve the ability of communities and government organizations to plan for and respond to floods as well as carry out behavioral change programs.
A low-lying delta is particularly susceptible to the effects of cyclones and floods that are brought on by climate change. Floods are becoming more powerful and intense as a result of climate change.
In addition, the project will create a database on the status of flood shelters, which will be essential for future investment planning and disaster preparedness.
The initiative will help the World Bank Group’s Climate Change Action Plan 2021–2025 as well as the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, a long-term strategy to create a safe, climate-resilient, and thriving delta. The loan has a 30-year duration with a five-year grace period and comes from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), which offers concessional financing.
