In 2023, United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) released a report exploring the work of CJRF partners addressing climate mobility. One key question it poses is: Can planned relocation address Loss and Damage (L&D)?
In Bangladesh’s coastal regions of Kutubdia and Bashkhali, climate-induced disasters have destroyed homes, land, and livelihoods, leaving families displaced and vulnerable. Many end up on embankments or roadsides without secure shelter or access to basic services like water, healthcare, or education. To respond, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), supported by CJRF and in collaboration with the government, has developed a small-scale relocation model that moves one family at a time. This approach ensures that relocated households receive not only housing but also essential services and opportunities to integrate into host communities. For example, YPSA has facilitated land registration, secured electricity and clean water, and installed deep tubewells that benefit both relocated families and their neighbors, helping to ease tensions and foster inclusion.
Alongside relocation, partners COAST, Helvetas, and YPSA are reconnecting displaced people with government programs for health, education, and social protection. Their efforts have enabled children to return to school, homeless families to access shelter schemes, and small-scale fishermen to receive compensation on days when fishing is banned. These interventions demonstrate that addressing Loss and Damage requires sustained investment in livelihoods, social infrastructure, and the dignity of displaced communities.
This illustration by artist Victor Ynami (@victor_ynami) helps us visualize the human toll of this slow-moving crisis. Stay tuned as we share more visual stories from CJRF’s partners and the UNU-EHS report—stories that challenge us to rethink what Loss and Damage can look like, and who bears its weight.