Exploring Disaster Vulnerability of Children in Urban Informal Settlements: A Built Environment Perspective

This study investigates the heightened vulnerability of children residing in disaster-prone informal settlements in the southwestern coastal city of Khulna, Bangladesh. The study focuses on both social and physical factors contributing to children's vulnerability, particularly in relation to the built environment. Employing a case study approach, this qualitative research combines socio-economic analysis to explore non-physical drivers and spatial mapping with built environment assessments to identify housing and infrastructure deficiencies. The research follows three specific objectives: identifying children’s living conditions, assessing the built environment’s vulnerability to flooding and cyclonic storms, and evaluating the subsequent impacts on children’s health, education, and psychosocial well-being. Findings are triangulated through thematic interpretation, providing a comprehensive view of how both social and built environmental factors converge to heighten risks for children. The results highlight the need for child-centered disaster risk management strategies, with a focus on resilient housing, infrastructure and basic services to protect vulnerable populations.